M. Grewe et al., ANALYSIS OF THE CYTOKINE PATTERN EXPRESSED IN-SITU IN INHALANT ALLERGEN PATCH TEST REACTIONS OF ATOPIC-DERMATITIS PATIENTS, Journal of investigative dermatology, 105(3), 1995, pp. 407-410
In the present study, we examined the cytokine pattern expressed in si
tu during the development of eczematous reactions that had been provok
ed in atopic dermatitis patients by patch testing with house dust mite
allergen, In 24-h house dust mite allergen patch test reactions, expr
ession of interleukin (IL)-4 mRNA and IL-2 mRNA increased, but interfe
ron (IFN)-gamma mRNA did not, as compared with control skin, In 48-h i
nhalant allergen patch test reactions, however, IFN-gamma mRNA and IL-
2 mRNA expression were increased above levels observed in control skin
, whereas IL-4 mRNA expression was decreased below background levels,
These data demonstrate that a switch from a Th-2-like to a Th-1-like c
ytokine response occurs in inhalant allergen patch tests of atopic der
matitis patients, This biphasic pattern was specific to inhalant aller
gen patch test reactions, as it was not observed in irritant reactions
in the same patient, IFN-gamma production by T cells may be induced b
y the cytokine IL-12. In the present study, upregulation of IFN-gamma
mRNA expression in inhalant allergen patch test reactions was preceded
by an increased expression of the p35 subunit of IL-12 mRNA. These ob
servations suggest that increased IL-12 expression may contribute to t
he observed switch of the in situ cytokine secretion pattern. Further
studies are necessary to determine whether a similar biphasic pattern
of cytokine expression is also operative in the initiation phase of at
opic eczema.