Lymphocyte subtypes and adhesion molecules in actinic prurigo: observations with cyclosporin A.
BACKGROUND
Actinic prurigo is a photodermatitis in which UV light is implicated by an unknown mechanism.


METHODS
Skin biopsies of 19 patients with actinic prurigo and 11 controls were analyzed by immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
In actinic prurigo patients, there was a significant increase in the number of CD3, CD4, CD8, CD45RA, CD45RO, and CD45RB lymphocytes and Langerhans cells, as well as in the level of human leukocyte antigen-DR (HLA-DR) expression and cell adhesion molecules lymphocyte functional antigen-1 (LFA-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule-1 (ELAM-1). Actinic prurigo patients were treated with cyclosporin A (CsA), and a final skin biopsy was taken after 6 months of treatment. All the cell populations and markers studied, except for the CD4 lymphocytes, Langerhans cells, and HLA-DR expression, returned to normal levels.


CONCLUSIONS
CsA was found to be effective in relieving the clinical symptoms of actinic prurigo.
Umaña
Angela
A
Instituto de Genética Humana, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Carrera 7 No. 40-62, Bogotá, Colombia. aumana@javeriana.edu.co
Gómez
Alberto
A
Durán
María Mélida
MM
Porras
Luisa
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D016169:Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D011536:Prurigo / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D019040:E-Selectin; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D016169:Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D016572:Cyclosporine