Tacrolimus decreases the expression of eotaxin, CCR3, RANTES and interleukin-5 in atopic dermatitis.
BACKGROUND
There is a lack of studies on the effect of tacrolimus on eosinophils and related molecules including eotaxin, CCR3, RANTES and interleukin (IL)-5.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of tacrolimus on in vivo eosinophil counts and on the related molecules eotaxin, CCR3, RANTES and IL-5 in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD).


METHODS
Lesional skin specimens and sera were obtained from 15 patients with AD and from 15 normal controls. For 8 weeks, the patients with AD applied 0.03% tacrolimus ointment to all affected areas twice daily. Blood sampling and skin biopsies were then repeated. We evaluated serum eotaxin and IL-5 levels, and tissue eotaxin, CCR3, RANTES and IL-5 levels. Additionally, tissue levels of eotaxin and CCR3 mRNA were measured.


RESULTS
After treatment with topical tacrolimus twice daily for 8 weeks, significant decreases were found in serum IL-5 levels, immunoreactive cell counts of eotaxin, IL-5, CCR3 and RANTES in AD skin, and tissue eosinophil counts. However, the change in the serum eosinophil count was not statistically significant, and mRNA levels of eotaxin and CCR3 were not decreased significantly after treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Topical tacrolimus reduces the number of eosinophils in tissue and suppresses the expression of eotaxin, CCR3, RANTES and IL-5 related to proliferation, recruitment, activation and survival of eosinophils.
Park
C W
CW
Department of Dermatology, Kang-Nam Sacred Heart Hospital, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Youngdeungpo-Gu, Seoul 150-950, Korea. ermap@paran.com
Lee
B H
BH
Han
H J
HJ
Lee
C H
CH
Ahn
H K
HK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D054413:Chemokine CCL11; D018946:Chemokine CCL5 / Q000032:analysis; D019742:Chemokines, CC / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D007723:Korea; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D009824:Ointments; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D054397:Receptors, CCR3; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D015415:Biomarkers; C515456:CCL11 protein, human; C515350:CCR3 protein, human; D054413:Chemokine CCL11; D018946:Chemokine CCL5; D019742:Chemokines, CC; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D015848:Interleukin-5; D009824:Ointments; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D054397:Receptors, CCR3; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine; D016559:Tacrolimus