[Lymphocyte apoptosis in atopic dermatitis treated with transfer factor].
BACKGROUND
Atopic dermatitis is an inflammatory dysfunction in whose physiopathology the lymphocytes T play an important role in the regulation of the inflammatory process.


OBJECTIVE
To determine and to characterize the role of apoptosis of lymphocytes in patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis before and after treatment with transfer factor.


METHODS
Fifteen patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis in a range of age from 5 to 45 were included in the study. Fifteen healthy subjects were taken as a control group. In all subjects it was determined the apoptosis of the lymphocytes by means of annexin and TUNEL techniques, as well as the expression of CD95 cells. The 15 patients with atopic dermatitis received treatment with transfer factor in stepped dose as follows: 1 U/day/5 doses, 1 U/week/3 doses, 1 U/15 days/2 doses, 1 U/30 days, until completing three months. At the end of this period new determinations were done to measure apoptosis of lymphocytes and PMN. At the beginning and at the end assessments of the severity in relation to the scale SCORAD were made.


RESULTS
By means of both techniques no significant difference was found in the percentage of apoptotic lymphocytes between patients and control subjects. Differences of the expression of CD95 between patients and control subjects before and after treatment were not significant. There was a significant difference (p < 0.01) of severity from the beginning to the end of treatment with transfer factor in patients with atopic dermatitis.


CONCLUSIONS
No significant differences of apoptosis of lymphocytes were found in patients with atopic dermatitis who received treatment and control subjects, neither before not after the treatment with transfer factor. It was verified the decrease in the severity of the symptoms related to the treatment with transfer factor.
García Angeles
Jesús
J
Departamento de Alergia e Inmunologia Clinica, Hospital Regional Lic. Adolfo López Mateos, ISSSTE, Av. Universidad 1321, col. Florida, CP 01030, México, DF.
Flores Sandoval
Graciela
G
Orea Solano
Modesto
M
Serrano
Ernestina
E
Estrada Parra
Sergio
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017304:Annexin A5 / Q000032:analysis; D017209:Apoptosis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008297:Male; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000473:pathology; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D014165:Transfer Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000032:analysis
D017304:Annexin A5; D014165:Transfer Factor; D019014:fas Receptor