title: Substance P binding to peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes in atopic dermatitis.
abstract: Substance P has various immunomodulatory effects, including in vitro modification of lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine release. Elevated levels of substance P and increased staining of substance P-positive nerve fibres have been reported in atopic dermatitis patients. We examined fluoresceinated substance P binding to a range of lymphocyte subsets and compared the results in atopic dermatitis, non-atopic psoriasis patients and normal controls. Fluoresceinated substance P and phycoerythrin-labelled monoclonal antibodies to CD3, CD4, CD8, CD57, CD19 and CD14 were incubated in duplicate with Ficoll-Hypaque separated peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes. With flow cytometry the fluoresceinated substance P-positive cells were identifiable as a peak of positively fluorescent cells, and the percentages of positive cells were measured. We have demonstrated binding of fluoresceinated substance P to all subsets examined, with significantly less binding to atopic dermatitis CD3-, CD8- and CD57-positive cells. This may affect cytokine release and hence be important in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, St Helier N.H.S. Trust, Surrey, UK.
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Ostlere
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ayliffe
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Rustin
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Holden
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D019793:Fluorescein; D005452:Fluoresceins; D006801:Humans; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010799:Phycoerythrin; D011485:Protein Binding; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000097:blood; D013373:Substance P / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D005452:Fluoresceins; D010799:Phycoerythrin; D013373:Substance P; D019793:Fluorescein