IN-VITRO INTERLEUKIN-4 AND INTERFERON-GAMMA PRODUCTION BY MONONUCLEAR-CELLS FROM ATOPIC-DERMATITIS PATIENTS

IN order to elucidate further the possible role of specific cytokines in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD) the in vitro production of interleukin 4 (IL-4) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in patients w ith severe atopic dermatitis (n = 4) was compared with. that in a grou p of non-atopic healthy controls. Overall IL-4 production by PHA- and PWM-driven PBMNCs was increased in controls during the first 48 h in c ulture. Addition of interleukin 2 (IL-2) into parallel cultures genera ted an insignificant (p > 0.05) increase in IL-4 production in AD pati ents compared with that from controls. IFN-gamma production by PWM-sti mulated PBMNCs was markedly decreased in AD patients compared with con trols (p < 0.01). Addition of IL-2 (250 U/ml) to parallel cultures fai led to restore IFN-gamma production in AD patients. Finally, no IL-4 o r IFN-gamma activity could be detected in any of the sera. In conclusi on, the data suggest a possible dysregulation of cytokine production i n at least a subgroup of AD patients, with an impaired capacity to sec rete IFN-gamma, but a partially intact IL-4 generating capacity.