title: Macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC)/CCL22 produced by monocyte derived dendritic cells reflects the disease activity in patients with atopic dermatitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a recurrent inflammatory skin disease characterized by high serum levels of IgE and Th2-type cytokines such as IL-4, IL-5 or IL-13. Chemokines attract leukocytes in inflamed tissues. We have previously found that thymus and activation regulated chemokine (TARC)/CCL17 and macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC)/CCL22 are highly secreted in the plasma levels of AD patients. Dendritic cells (DCs) are antigen-presenting cells that are divided into two subgroups including monocyte derived DCs (MoDCs) and plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to elucidate CCL17 and CCL22 production by MoDCs in AD patients, psoriasis vulgaris (PsV) patients and healthy controls (HC).
  
  
  METHODS
  MoDCs were obtained from AD patients, PsV patients or HC and were cultured. In addition, the chemokine levels were measured in the supernatants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that the CCL22 levels produced by MoDCs in AD patients to be significantly higher than those of PsV patients and HC. There was a significant correlation between the CCL22 levels produced by MoDCs and the SCORAD index. No significant difference in the CCL17 levels produced by MoDCs was detected among AD patients, PsV patients or HC. Immunosuppressive drugs such as dexamethasone (Dex), tacrolimus and cyclosporine (Cys) inhibited the CCL22 production by MoDCs in the AD patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that the CCL22 level produced by MoDCs thus reflects the disease activity of AD and it may also play an important role regarding the production of CCL22 in the pathogenesis of AD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Fukushima Medical University, Hikarigaoka-1, Fukushima, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.forename: Koichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Noritaka
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Oyama
authors.forename: Fumio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kaneko
authors.forename: Yuichiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tsunemi
authors.forename: Hidehisa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saeki
authors.forename: Kunihiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tamaki
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D054414:Chemokine CCL17; D054422:Chemokine CCL22; D019742:Chemokines, CC / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000494:pharmacology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; C106230:CCL17 protein, human; C515482:CCL22 protein, human; D054414:Chemokine CCL17; D054422:Chemokine CCL22; D019742:Chemokines, CC; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D020382:Interleukin-18; D018664:Interleukin-12; D003907:Dexamethasone; D016572:Cyclosporine; D016559:Tacrolimus