Proliferation of T lymphocytes from atopic dermatitis skin is enhanced upon anti-CD3, reduced upon mitogen and superantigen, and negligible upon tuberculin stimulation.
Knowledge about the nature of lymphocytes infiltrating atopic dermatitis skin is restricted to allergen-specific T cells. We investigated the proliferative capacities of T lymphocytes cultured in an antigen-independent way from biopsies of atopic dermatitis skin. When compared with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from healthy donors or atopic dermatitis patients, the skin-homing lymphocytes proliferated more vigorously in response to stimulation with anti-CD3 antibodies (1 microglml), reflecting their high response capacity. When stimulated with phytohemagglutinin (10 microg/ml) or staphylococcal enterotoxin A (0.1 microg/ml) the skin-homing lymphocytes achieved significantly lower proliferation levels than PBMC. In contrast to normal and atopic PBMC the skin-homing lymphocytes did not respond to tuberculin purified protein derivative (10 microg/ml). In the mixed lymphocyte reaction the skin-homing lymphocytes did not stimulate autologous PBMC to proliferate. We conclude that skin-homing lymphocytes have more pronounced immune deviations than PBMC in patients with atopic dermatitis. They represent a valuable approach for further investigating the pathogenesis of the disease.
Department of Dermatology, University of Aarhus, Marselisborg Hospital, Denmark. ansa@ut.ee
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D001706:Biopsy; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000502:physiology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008934:Mitogens / Q000276:immunology*; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000276:immunology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D018089:Superantigens / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D014373:Tuberculin / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D017252:CD3 Complex; D008934:Mitogens; D018089:Superantigens; D014373:Tuberculin