Increased type 2 cytokine expression by both CD4(+) CD45RO(+) T cells and CD8(+) CD45RO(+) T cells in blood circulation is associated with high serumIgE but not with atopic dermatitis

Type 2 cytokines, such as interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-13, are associated wi th immunoglobulin E (IgE) production. This association has also been observ ed in CD8(+) T cells from patients infected with leprosy and human immunode ficiency virus (HIV), Using intracellular cytokine staining and flow cytome try, the cytokine profile [IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IL-13, and interferon (IFN)-g amma] of both CD4(+) and CD8(+) memory/effector T cells circulating in atop ic dermatitis (AD) patients was investigated at the single cell level. The levels of type 2 cytokines in CD4(+) T cells or CD8(+) T cells in AD patien ts with high levels of serum IgE (AD-H), low levels of serum IgE (AD-L), an d healthy controls were compared. Increased production of IL-4 and IL-13 in both CD4(+) CD45RO(+) T cells and CD8(+) CD45RO(+) T cells after 4 h in vi tro stimulation with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and ionomycin, was mor e prominent in AD-H patients than in AD-L patients or healthy controls, whe reas IFN-gamma-producing CD4(+) CD45RO(+) T cells and CD8(+) CD45RO(+) T ce lls were relatively diminished in AD-H patients. CD4(+) T cells and CD8(+) T cells from AD-H patients, cultured for 48 h with phorbol 12-myristate 13- acetate and ionomycin, released larger amounts of IL-4 and IL-13 but smalle r amounts of IFN-gamma than both types of cells from AD-L patients or healt hy controls. In addition, when stimulated with immobilized anti-CD3 monoclo nal antibody (MoAb) and anti-CD28 MoAb, CD4(+) CD45RO(+) T cells and CD8(+) CD45RO(+) T cells from AD-H patients contained more IL-4-producing cells b ut fewer IFN-gamma-producing cells compared with healthy controls. Finally, spontaneous mRNA expression of IL-4 in blood CD8(+) CD45RO(+) T cells isol ated from AD-H patients was increased, as determined by reverse transcripta se-polymerase chain reaction. Therefore, in AD patients with high IgE level s, type 2 cytokine (IL-4 and IL-13) expression is associated with IgE produ ction, in both CD4(+) CD45RO(+) T cell and CD8(+) CD45RO(+) T cell subsets.