title: Serum levels of the Th1 promoter IL-12 and the Th2 chemokine TARC are elevated in erythema multiforme and Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis and correlate with soluble Fas ligand expression. An immunoenzymatic study from the Italian Group of Immunopathology.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  No data exist as to Th2 chemokines in erythema multiforme (EM) and Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS)/toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate thymus- and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC), macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC) and regulated upon activation, normal T-lymphocyte-expressed and secreted chemokine (RANTES) expression in EM and SJS/TEN and to correlate with the serum levels of the Th1 promoter interleukin (IL)-12 and soluble Fas ligand (sFasL).
  
  
  METHODS
  IL-12, sFasL, TARC, MDC and RANTES expression were analyzed by ELISA techniques in 31 untreated EM (n = 24) or SJS/TEN (n = 7) patients and in 28 healthy donors (HD).
  
  
  RESULTS
  EM and SJS/TEN exhibited significantly higher levels of TARC, IL-12 and sFasL with respect to HD. TARC upregulation paralleled both the IL-12 (p = 0.0225) and sFasL increase (p = 0.0194).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results support a role of TARC in the pathophysiology of EM/SJS/TEN and confirm the coexistence of a Th2 response in addition to the predominant Th1 profile.
authors: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Section of Dermatology, 1st Dermatologic Clinic, University of Turin, Turin, Italy. pietro.quaglino@unito.it
authors: Pietro
authors: P
authors: Quaglino
authors: Marzia
authors: M
authors: Caproni
authors: Emiliano
authors: E
authors: Antiga
authors: Elena
authors: E
authors: Del Bianco
authors: Simona
authors: S
authors: Osella-Abate
authors: Paola
authors: P
authors: Savoia
authors: Alessandra
authors: A
authors: Frezzolini
authors: Donatella
authors: D
authors: Schena
authors: Angelo
authors: A
authors: Marzano
authors: Walter
authors: W
authors: Volpi
authors: Clara
authors: C
authors: De Simone
authors: Aurora
authors: A
authors: Parodi
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Fabbri
authors: Maria Grazia
authors: MG
authors: Bernengo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D054414:Chemokine CCL17; D054422:Chemokine CCL22; D018946:Chemokine CCL5 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D018925:Chemokines; D019742:Chemokines, CC / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004892:Erythema Multiforme / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013262:Stevens-Johnson Syndrome / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: C106230:CCL17 protein, human; C515482:CCL22 protein, human; D054414:Chemokine CCL17; D054422:Chemokine CCL22; D018946:Chemokine CCL5; D018925:Chemokines; D019742:Chemokines, CC; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D018664:Interleukin-12