SEB-induced IL-13 production in CLA(+) memory T cells defines Th2 high and Th2 low responders in atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis; Cutaneous lymphocyte antigen; Skin infections Dermatitis atópica; Antígeno cutáneo de linfocitos; Infecciones de la piel Dermatitis atòpica; Antigen limfòcit cutani; Infeccions de la pell Staphylococcus aureus, memory skin-homing cutaneous lymphocyte-associated antigen (CLA)+ T cells and IL-13 constitute relevant play-ers in atopic dermatitis (AD) pathogenesis.1 Since circulating CLA+ T cells reflect cutaneous abnormalities present in human inflammatory skin diseases,2 an ex vivo coculture model made of purified circu-lating CLA+/− effector and central memory T cells and autologous lesional epidermal cells was established. We show a CLA-dependent production of IL-13 upon activation with staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) that allows the differentiation of the Th2 high and Th2 low groups, with distinct clinical correlations between both groups, within a clinically homogeneous population of adult non-treated moderate-to- severe AD patients.