title: T helper (Th)1, Th17 and Th2 imbalance in mesenchymal stem cells of adult patients with atopic dermatitis: at the origin of the problem.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic and inflammatory disease characterized by a marked imbalance of T helper (Th)2 vs. Th1/Th17 cells in the early phase of AD, whereas a mixed Th1/Th2 pattern of inflammation is usually found at the chronic stage. These features have not been extensively evaluated in undifferentiated skin cells of patients affected by AD.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the relative expression of 22 genes encoding Th1, Th2 and Th17 cytokines and the secretion of the corresponding proteins in cutaneous mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) isolated from skin of patients with AD (AD-MSCs) and their role in AD onset.
  
  
  METHODS
  AD-MSCs were isolated, characterized and profiled by polymerase chain reaction array and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the relative expression and secretion of cytokines involved in the Th1, Th2 and Th17 pathways. MSCs isolated from the skin of healthy people were used as controls (C-MSCs).
  
  
  RESULTS
  AD-MSCs showed an upregulation of many Th1/Th17 cytokines [interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-12, IL-13, IL-17A, IL-17F, transforming growth factor-β, interferon-γ], while Th2 chemokines (IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-23A) were downregulated in AD-MSCs. Finally, some genes/proteins (CCL1, IL-17C, tumour necrosis factor-α) did not show variations between C-MSCs and AD-MSCs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The profile of MSCs obtained from patients with chronic AD retraces the Th1/Th17 cell environment observed in differentiated cells of chronic AD. This evidence could open a new scenario in the pathogenesis of AD, according to which the inflammatory process may involve MSCs early on.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Clinical Sciences - Histology, Marche Polytechnic University, Via Tronto 10/A, 60126, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Orciani
authors.affiliation: Dermatological Clinic, Department of Molecular and Clinical Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, Via Tronto 10/A, 60126, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Campanati
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Clinical Sciences - Histology, Marche Polytechnic University, Via Tronto 10/A, 60126, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caffarini
authors.affiliation: Dermatological Clinic, Department of Molecular and Clinical Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, Via Tronto 10/A, 60126, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ganzetti
authors.affiliation: Dermatological Clinic, Department of Molecular and Clinical Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, Via Tronto 10/A, 60126, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Consales
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Clinical Sciences - Histology, Marche Polytechnic University, Via Tronto 10/A, 60126, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lucarini
authors.affiliation: Dermatological Clinic, Department of Molecular and Clinical Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, Via Tronto 10/A, 60126, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Offidani
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Clinical Sciences - Histology, Marche Polytechnic University, Via Tronto 10/A, 60126, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Di Primio
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines