Topical superantigen exposure induces epidermal accumulation of CD8+ T cells, a mixed Th1/Th2-type dermatitis and vigorous production of IgE antibodies in the murine model of atopic dermatitis.
Patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) have repeated cutaneous exposure to both environmental allergens and superantigen-producing strains of Staphylococcus aureus. We used a murine model of AD to investigate the role of staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) in the modulation of allergen-induced skin inflammation. Mice were topically exposed to SEB, OVA, a combination of OVA and SEB (OVA/SEB), or PBS. Topical SEB and OVA/SEB exposure induced epidermal accumulation of CD8+ T cells and TCRVbeta8+ cells in contrast to OVA application, which induced a mainly dermal infiltration of CD4+ cells. SEB and OVA/SEB exposure elicited a mixed Th1/Th2-associated cytokine and chemokine expression profile within the skin. Restimulation of lymph node cells from OVA- and OVA/SEB-exposed mice with OVA elicited strong production of IL-13 protein, whereas substantial amounts of IFN-gamma protein were detected after SEB stimulation of cells derived from SEB- or OVA/SEB-exposed mice. Topical SEB treatment elicited vigorous production of SEB-specific IgE and IgG2a Abs and significantly increased the production of OVA-specific IgE and IgG2a Abs. The present study shows that topical exposure to SEB provokes epidermal accumulation of CD8+ T cells, a mixed Th2/Th1 type dermatitis and vigorous production of specific IgE and IgG2a Abs, which can be related to the chronic phase of atopic skin inflammation.
Savinko
Terhi
T
Laboratory of Immunotoxicology, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland.
Lauerma
Antti
A
Lehtimäki
Sari
S
Gombert
Michael
M
Majuri
Marja-Leena
ML
Fyhrquist-Vanni
Nanna
N
Dieu-Nosjean
Marie-Caroline
MC
Kemeny
Lajos
L
Wolff
Henrik
H
Homey
Bernhard
B
Alenius
Harri
H
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / Q000276:immunology; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000276:immunology; D004817:Epidermis / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D018089:Superantigens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D004768:Enterotoxins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D018089:Superantigens; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; C031818:enterotoxin B, staphylococcal; D010047:Ovalbumin