title: Alterations of serum Th1 and Th2 chemokines by combination therapy of interferon-gamma and narrowband UVB in patients with mycosis fungoides.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mycosis fungoides (MF) is a T cell neoplasm with elevation of serum Th2 chemokines. Although interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) administration and narrowband-UVB (NB-UVB) phototherapy are used for the treatment of MF, a combination therapy of these two modalities is not fully established.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To define whether the combination of IFN-gamma and NB-UVB affects the balance of serum levels of Th1 and Th2 chemokines in patients with MF.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve patients with MF received intravenous or intramuscular injections of recombinant IFN-gamma (rIFN-gamma) or natural IFN-gamma (nIFN-gamma) in combination with NB-UVB phototherapy. As control, three MF patients were treated with NB-UVB monotherapy. At the beginning and cessation of therapy, the concentrations of serum Th2 chemokines, TARC/CCL17 and MDC/CCL22, and Th1 chemokines, IP-10/CXCL10 and MIG/CXCL9 were measured by ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Before treatment, not only Th2 chemokines but also Th1 chemokines were elevated in the patients. Whereas no significant changes were observed in the levels of TARC and MDC, IP-10 and MIG were further elevated by the combination of IFN-gamma and NB-UVB. On the other hand, NB-UVB monotherapy did not change the level of either Th1 or Th2 chemokine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of IFN-gamma and NB-UVB elevated serum Th1 chemokines but unaffected Th2 chemokines. Since NB-UVB monotherapy could not affect the chemokine levels, the effect of the combination therapy is attributable to IFN-gamma. Given the role of Th1 chemokines for tumor-attacking T cell recruitment at the early stage of MF, the therapy may exert a beneficial effect for early MF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, 1-1 Iseigaoka, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyusyu 807-8555, Japan. t-shima@med.uoeh-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Takatoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shimauchi
authors.forename: Kazunari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugita
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nishio
authors.forename: Hideka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Isoda
authors.forename: Shoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Ryosuke
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hino
authors.forename: Makiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ogata
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kabashima
authors.forename: Yoshiki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tokura
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D054414:Chemokine CCL17 / Q000097:blood; D054422:Chemokine CCL22 / Q000097:blood; D054357:Chemokine CXCL10 / Q000097:blood; D054370:Chemokine CXCL9 / Q000097:blood; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009182:Mycosis Fungoides / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy
chemical_list: C106230:CCL17 protein, human; C515482:CCL22 protein, human; C114753:CXCL10 protein, human; C080810:CXCL9 protein, human; D054414:Chemokine CCL17; D054422:Chemokine CCL22; D054357:Chemokine CXCL10; D054370:Chemokine CXCL9; D007371:Interferon-gamma