Analysis of circulating gammadelta T cells in children affected by IgE-associated and non-IgE-associated allergic atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome.
Recent studies have suggested that not only alphabeta(+) T cells, but also the less common gammadelta(+) T cells may play a role as effectors and immunoregolatory cells in the development and perpetuation of allergic inflammation. The objective of this study was to focus on the role of gammadelta(+) T cells in atopic dermatitis (AD), a chronic relapsing inflammatory disease of the skin, often associated with allergic bronchial asthma. The present study employed flow cytometric analysis to compare numbers and phenotypic characteristics of gammadelta(+) T cells in the peripheral blood of children with atopic dermatitis and age-matched healthy controls. The percentage of circulating Vgamma 9Vdelta2(+) T lymphocytes was significantly increased in AD patients with respect to the age-matched controls, with a positive correlation with clinical score severity. The prevalent phenotype in both AD patients and controls was CD45RO(+), with no differences observed in the percentage of Vdelta2(+) CD45RO(+) between these groups. Conversely, memory CD45RO(+) CD62L(+) Vdelta2(+) lymphocytes were significantly lower in AD patients. Furthermore, naive circulating Vdelta2(+) T lymphocytes were significantly lower in AD children than in aged-matched controls. No correlation was observed between circulating Vgamma 9Vdelta2(+) expansion and IgE serum levels. It was concluded that an association exists between the levels of circulating gammadelta(+) T lymphocytes and atopic dermatitis, with a positive correlation with clinical score but no link with IgE serum levels. The pathophysiological role of gammadelta T lymphocytes in atopic dermatitis awaits further investigation.
Cairo
C
C
Research Center San Pietro Hospital, Fatebenefratelli- AFaR- Rome, Italy.
Arabito
E
E
Landi
F
F
Casati
A
A
Brunetti
E
E
Mancino
G
G
Galli
E
E
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood*; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000097:blood*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013577:Syndrome; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*
D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; D007073:Immunoglobulin E