title: Characterization of T cell responses to fragrances.
abstract: Fragrances are worldwide a major cause of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), a delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction mediated by T lymphocytes. We investigated T cell responses to fragrances using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and T cells from skin lesions of fragrance-allergic patients. The components of a fragrance mixture (eugenol, isoeugenol, geraniol, oak moss, alpha-amyl cinnamic aldehyde, cinnamic aldehyde, cinnamic alcohol, and hydroxycitronellal) that is commonly used in the patch test were studied in vitro in the lymphocyte transformation test (LTT). PBMC from fragrance-allergic patients (n = 32) showed significant stimulations to all eight fragrances. The calculated stimulation indices (SI) varied between 2.1 and 21.8. The influence of metabolic enzymes on T cell stimulation was studied for two fragrances. Interestingly, stimulation of eugenol and isoeugenol was increased in the presence of antigen-modified human liver microsomes (CYP450) or recombinant CYP1A1 in five of seven cases. Furthermore, we established 18 T cell clones (TCC) from a skin lesion reacting specifically to eugenol. FACS analysis revealed that the majority (n = 15, 83%) of TCC were CD3(+), CD4(+), and HLA-DR(+). Seventeen percent (n = 3) of the clones were CD8(+). TCC (n = 4) released significant amounts of IL-2 and IFN-gamma but no IL-4 and IL-5. In addition, CD4(+) TCC (n = 3) showed antigen-induced cytotoxic activities against autologous B cells. In summary, we demonstrated for the first time that fragrance-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) T lymphocytes are present in fragrance-allergic individuals. In addition, our results suggest that CYPs can be involved in the formation of the nominative antigen.
authors: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital, Aachen, Germany.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Sieben
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Hertl
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Al Masaoudi
authors: H F
authors: HF
authors: Merk
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Blömeke
mesh_terms: D000080462:Acyclic Monoterpenes; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D017951:Antigen Presentation; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000032:analysis; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D002934:Cinnamates / Q000276:immunology; D019363:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 / Q000378:metabolism; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000276:immunology; D005054:Eugenol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008862:Microsomes, Liver / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology; D009812:Odorants; D010476:Perfume; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology; D012882:Skin Tests; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013729:Terpenes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000080462:Acyclic Monoterpenes; D000485:Allergens; D017252:CD3 Complex; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D002934:Cinnamates; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D010476:Perfume; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013729:Terpenes; D005054:Eugenol; C036643:isoeugenol; C020755:hydroxycitronellal; D019363:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1; C007836:geraniol