Atopic dermatitis and Valpha24+ natural killer T cells.
OBJECTIVE
Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease associated with cutaneous hyperreactivity to environmental triggers and is often the first step in the atopic march that results in asthma and allergic rhinitis. Helper T cells and their cytokines, in addition to IgE and eosinophils, play a major role in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis. Natural killer T (NKT) cells may play a role in atopic dermatitis status.


METHODS
The authors examined the percentage of Valpha24+CD161+ NKT cells and CD3+CD16+ CD56+ NKT cells in peripheral blood from 23 patients with atopic dermatitis aged 8 to 35 years (mean, 21.77+/-2.88 years) and 30 healthy controls aged 18 to 32 years (mean, 24.32+/-2.44 years) by using flow cytometric analysis. The mean percentages of Valpha24+CD161+ NKT cell subtypes in the atopic dermatitis group and the healthy group were 0.29%+/-0.02% and 0.42%+/-0.05%, respectively (P<.001).


RESULTS
Percentages of Valpha24+CD161+ NKT cell subtypes are significantly lower in patients with atopic dermatitis than healthy individuals. On the other hand, the CD3+CD16+CD56+ NKT cell subtype does not differ between the groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The reduction of Valpha24+CD161+ NKT cells subtypes may be involved in the immunopathogenesis of atopic dermatitis.
Ilhan
Fulya
F
Department of Immunology, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey. fulhan23@yahoo.com
Kandi
Basak
B
Akbulut
Handan
H
Turgut
Dilara
D
Cicek
Demet
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D037181:Lectins, C-Type / Q000032:analysis*; D055651:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily B; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000032:analysis*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology