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.
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.
Quaglino
Pietro
P
Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Section of Dermatology, 1st Dermatologic Clinic, University of Turin, Turin, Italy. pietro.quaglino@unito.it
Caproni
Marzia
M
Antiga
Emiliano
E
Del Bianco
Elena
E
Osella-Abate
Simona
S
Savoia
Paola
P
Frezzolini
Alessandra
A
Schena
Donatella
D
Marzano
Angelo
A
Volpi
Walter
W
De Simone
Clara
C
Parodi
Aurora
A
Fabbri
Paolo
P
Bernengo
Maria Grazia
MG
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
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