DICHOTOMY OF BLOOD-DERIVED AND SKIN-DERIVED IL-4-PRODUCING ALLERGEN-SPECIFIC T-CELLS AND RESTRICTED V-BETA REPERTOIRE IN NICKEL-MEDIATED CONTACT-DERMATITIS

In this study we compared the phenotype and cytokine patterns of nicke l-specific T cell clones (TCC) derived from blood samples and positive patch test reactions, A total of 252 nickel-specific TCC were establi shed from three nonatopic patients with allergic contact dermatitis ca used by nickel, All TCC expressed the TCR-alpha beta, and 77% were CD4 (+) compared with 21% CD8(+) TCC, In contrast to blood-derived TCC, th e majority of skin-derived CD4(+) or CD8(+) T lymphocytes produced IL- 4 either in combination with IFN-gamma (type 0 cytokine pattern) or IL -4 exclusively (type 2 pattern), Skin-derived nickel-specific TCC of e ach patient secreted significantly more IL-4 than blood-derived TCC of the same individual, Analysis of TCR-V beta repertoire from two patie nts indicated that >40% of the tested TCC expressed one of the followi ng V beta elements: V beta 13.1/13.2, V beta 20, V beta 2, V beta 6,7, or V beta 14, Only 20% of unstimulated T cells but >40% of nickel-sti mulated T cells derived from peripheral blood of the same individuals expressed these V beta elements, suggesting a selection of certain TCR -V beta elements by nickel sulfate in these patients, In contrast to t he compartmentalization of IL-4 production, there were no major differ ences in the expression of TCR-V beta elements between blood- and skin -derived nickel-specific TCC, These results point to a modulation of t he cytokine production pattern of T lymphocytes after their migration from peripheral blood into the skin and a production of the type 2 cyt okine IL-4 in acute eczematous lesions in nonatopic individuals.