T(H)2-TYPE INFILTRATING T-CELLS IN NICKEL-INDUCED CONTACT-DERMATITIS

The T cell response to nickel-modified endogenous peptides is involved in the immunopathogenesis of nickel-induced contact dermatitis. Nicke l-reactive T cells described so far display a T(H)1 lymphokine secreti on pattern characterized by high amounts of IFN gamma, but Little or n o IL-4 and IL-5. In this paper we demonstrate that nickel-reactive T c ells can belong to the THO and even to the T(H)2 CD4(+) T cell subset. Nickel-reactive T cell clones (TCC) were derived from the lesion of a patient with nickel contact dermatitis. These TCC responded to nickel with the production of high levels of IL-5 and variable amounts of IF N-gamma and IL-4 resembling a T(H)2- or T(H)0-like cytokine secretion pattern. None of the nickel-reactive TCC showed a clear cut T(H)1 prof ile. We show that IL-4 was a growth factor for the T(H)2 and some of t he T(H)0 TCC. We conclude that nickel is able to induce T(H)2 cells an d that in this patient with a typical nickel-induced contact dermatiti s T(H)2 cells are prevalent and might contribute to the immunopathogen esis of contact dermatitis. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.