Participation of T lymphocytes in cutaneous allergic reactions to drugs.
Immunological mechanisms implicated in drug allergic reactions are not yet well understood, but there is 'in vivo' and 'in vitro' evidence that T lymphocytes are involved in these hypersensitivity reactions. The cutaneous lymphocyte-associated antigen (CLA) is the skin homing receptor and is involved in targeting a skin-selective memory T lymphocyte to cutaneous sites of chronic inflammation. We have seen that CLA expression is increased in circulating T lymphocytes of patients who develop a drug allergic cutaneous reaction, these cells are activated and their CLA values tend to become normal in parallel with the disappearance of skin symptoms, demonstrating that CD3+ CLA+ cells are involved in the immunological mechanisms responsible for the pathogenesis of the chronic inflammation process in cutaneous drug reactions.
Department of Internal Medicine, Carlos Haya Hospital, Malaga, Spain.
F J
FJ
González
L
L
Leyva
S
S
Posadas
I
I
Luque
M
M
Blanca
L
L
Santamaría
C
C
Juarez
D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology; D003875:Drug Eruptions / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D016201:Receptors, Lymphocyte Homing / Q000276:immunology; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D016201:Receptors, Lymphocyte Homing