Increased frequency of intracellular interleukin (IL)-13 and IL-10, but not IL-4, expressing CD4+ and CD8+ peripheral T cells of patients with atopic dermatitis.
BACKGROUND
A number of studies exist demonstrating the increased expression of type 2 cytokines and decreased capacity to produce interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with atopic dermatitis (AD).


OBJECTIVE
To clarify the results of recent studies concerning the role of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13 in PBMCs of AD patients, we analysed the activation status of lymphocyte subpopulations.


METHODS
We measured the intracellular expression and serum levels of certain type 1 and type 2 cytokines, using cell surface and intracellular cytokine staining, flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay techniques.


RESULTS
The frequency of IL-10 and IL-13 producing CD4+ and CD8+ T cells was significantly higher in patients with AD, while the frequency of IFN-gamma secreting helper and cytotoxic T cells was significantly lower in patients with AD than in control subjects. The serum levels of IL-10 and IL-13 were also significantly increased. There were no significant differences observed between the experimental groups in the frequency of IL-4 producing CD4+ and CD8+ cells.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates a type 2 cytokine production in the CD4+ and CD8+ T cells of AD patients, which is characterized by an elevated IL-13, but not by IL-4 secretion, and by an increased level of the immunoregulatory IL-10, which can contribute to a decrease in IFN-gamma expression.
Aleksza
M
M
Third Department of Internal Medicine, Department of Dermatology, University of Debrecen, Medical and Health Sciences Center, 98 Nagyerdei Str., Debrecen 4012, Hungary.
Lukács
A
A
Antal-Szalmás
P
P
Hunyadi
J
J
Szegedi
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000097:blood; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male
D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D018793:Interleukin-13; D007378:Interleukins; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E