title: Immunoregulation of hapten and drug induced immune reactions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Unbalanced immune responses to haptens lead to a variety of diseases, including allergic contact dermatitis to skin sensitizers and drug induced immune reactions. The occurrence, magnitude and persistence of immune responses are modulated by specialized T cell subsets with regulatory function. The purpose of this brief review is to summarize the recent data on the role of regulatory T cells in the control of hapten mediated diseases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Several subsets of regulatory T cells, including T regulatory cell 1-like lymphocytes, and cutaneous lymphocyte associated antigen+ CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells have been isolated from the skin at sites of hapten challenge. Both cell types suppress specific T cell responses to cutaneous sensitizers, such as nickel.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although data concerning the regulation of drug hypersensitivity are lacking, several reports indicate the role of regulatory T cell subsets in allergic contact dermatitis to haptens. The understanding of their role in hapten diseases and the requirement for their in-vivo and in-vitro expansion appears as a critical step for the development of specific desensitization protocols.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunology, Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata, IRCCS, Rome, Italy. cavani@idi.it
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cavani
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ottaviani
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nasorri
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sebastiani
authors.forename: Giampiero
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Girolomoni
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology*; D006241:Haptens / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006241:Haptens; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2