title: Characterization of the T cell response in allergic contact dermatitis caused by corticosteroids.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Delayed allergic hypersensitivity reactions have classically been described as type IV reactions, which are caused by T cells; however, the respective roles of CD4(+) and CD8(+) cells are yet to be defined. A central role for CD8(+) cytotoxic T cells as effector cells has been suggested.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the type of T cell involved in corticosteroid allergy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analysed the kinetics of T cell recruitment and the cytokine production profile in positive patch tests of 27 corticosteroid-sensitized patients, as compared with control sites and control subjects. Skin biopsies, collected at 8, 24 and 48 hr following drug application, were embedded in paraffin for histological and immunohistological staining, and, in some cases, also deep-frozen for gene expression analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CD3(+) T cells were rapidly recruited in concert with the positivity of the patch test sites. High levels of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5 and, to a lesser extent, interferon-γ suggested that both Th2 and Th1 cytokines were implicated. IL-4 was also produced by γδ T cell receptor (TCR) lymphocytes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed that, in allergic contact dermatitis caused by corticosteroids, the inflammatory infiltrate is composed of CD3(+) T cells with a predominant Th2 cytokine profile, among which IL-4 is also produced by γδ TCR lymphocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Universite' Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium. marie.baeck@uclouvain.be
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baeck
authors.forename: Angèle
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Soria
authors.forename: Liliane
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marot
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Theate
authors.forename: Emilie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hendrickx
authors.forename: Astrid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van Belle
authors.forename: An
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goossens
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tennstedt
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dachelet
authors.forename: Johnathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jaeger
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pilette
authors.forename: Jean-Christophe
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Renauld
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Van Baren
authors.forename: Aurore
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rozières
authors.forename: Jean-Fançois
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Nicolas
authors.forename: Laure
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dumoutier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001706:Biopsy; D019819:Budesonide / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D003875:Drug Eruptions / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000378:metabolism; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010328:Patch Tests; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D017252:CD3 Complex; D005938:Glucocorticoids; C573415:IFNG protein, human; C508598:IL4 protein, human; C508599:IL5 protein, human; D015848:Interleukin-5; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; D015847:Interleukin-4; D019819:Budesonide; C019112:tixocortol pivalate; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D006854:Hydrocortisone