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CD4+ CD8+ (thymocyte-like) T lymphocytes present in blood and skin from patients with atopic dermatitis suggest immune dysregulation.
- Source :
- British Journal of Dermatology; Jun2001, Vol. 144 Issue 6, p1140-1147, 8p
- Publication Year :
- 2001
-
Abstract
- Background Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease expressed early in life. Disease development is primarily determined by as yet unknown genetic factors, leading to the accumulation of activated T lymphocytes in the skin.Objectives To investigate the nature of these T cells.Methods T-cell lines could be established from AD skin biopsies, but not from normal skin or AD peripheral blood, when placed in RPMI 1640 medium with 10% human AB serum, antibiotics, and the T-lymphocyte growth factors interleukins 2 and 4. The cell lines were subjected to phenotypic analysis using a fluorescence-activated cell sorter and compared with lymphocytes from AD and normal control peripheral blood.Results T-cell lines from 22 of 24 consecutive skin biopsies taken from 24 adult patients with AD were established. All cells were T lymphocytes expressing several activation markers. A significant proportion of the lymphocytes had stable expression of a CD4+ CD8+ phenotype (26% ± 6%; mean ± SEM). Such double-positive T lymphocytes are normally only seen in the thymus and not in the peripheral immune system. CD4+ CD8+ cells in peripheral blood of the patients (12·5% ± 3·3%) were also detected.Conclusions We suggest that a basic pathophysiological change in AD may be a faulty maturation of the T-lymphocyte system, leading to skin inflammation with CD4+ CD8+ T lymphocytes resembling immature T cells. This is likely to lead to skewing of many immune reactions in the patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- ATOPIC dermatitis
SKIN inflammation
T cells
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00070963
- Volume :
- 144
- Issue :
- 6
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- British Journal of Dermatology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 4616961
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2133.2001.04223.x