Characterization of the early local immune response to Ixodes ricinus tick bites in human skin.
Little is known about the immunomodulation by tick saliva during a natural tick bite in human skin, the site of the tick-host interaction. We examined the expression of chemokines, cytokines and leucocyte markers on the mRNA levels and histopathologic changes in human skin biopsies of tick bites (n=37) compared to unaffected skin (n=9). Early tick-bite skin lesions (<24 hours of tick attachment) were characterized by a predominance of macrophages and dendritic cells, elevated mRNA levels of macrophage chemoattractants (CCL2, CCL3, CCL4) and neutrophil chemoattractants (CXCL1, CXCL8), of the pro-inflammatory cytokine, IL-1β, and the anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-5. In contrast, the numbers of lymphocytes and mRNA levels of lymphocyte cell markers (CD4, CD8, CD19), lymphocyte chemoattractants (CXCL9, CXCL10, CXCL11, CXCL13, CCL1, CCL22), dendritic cell chemoattractants (CCL20), and other pro- (IL-6, IL-12p40, IFN-γ, TNF-α) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-10, TGF-β) did not differ from normal skin. With longer tick attachment (>24 hours), the numbers of innate immune cells and mediators (not significantly) declined, whereas the numbers of lymphocytes (not significantly) increased. Natural tick bites by Ixodes ricinus ticks initially elicit a strong local innate immune response in human skin. Beyond 24 hours of tick attachment, this response usually becomes less, perhaps because of immunomodulation by tick saliva.
Division of Rheumatology Allergy and Immunology, Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.|Allergy Unit, Department of Dermatology, University and University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Martin
M
Glatz
Division of Rheumatology Allergy and Immunology, Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Terry
T
Means
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Josef
J
Haas
Division of Rheumatology Allergy and Immunology, Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Allen C
AC
Steere
Department of Dermatology, State Hospital Wiener Neustadt, Wiener Neustadt, Austria.|Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Robert R
RR
Müllegger
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D001706:Biopsy; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018925:Chemokines / Q000235:genetics; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D018884:Ixodes / Q000276:immunology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012463:Saliva / Q000276:immunology*; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D015703:Antigens, CD; D018925:Chemokines; D016207:Cytokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger
chemokine; cytokine; human skin; immune response; tick bite