PRODUCTION OF ANTIBODIES TO STAPHYLOCOCCAL SUPERANTIGENS IN ATOPIC-DERMATITIS

Staphylococcal superantigens (SAG) are implicated in the inflammation of atopic dermatitis. As SAG mediated diseases may be modified by spec ific antibodies, the antibody response to SAG in atopic dermatitis was investigated. Immunoglobulin (Ig) G to staphylococcal enterotoxin A ( SEA), staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), and toxic shock syndrome tox in 1 (TSST-1) were measured by sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent as say (ELISA) in 74 children with atopic dermatitis and 111 controls. Co ntrols had detectable IgG to SEA, SEB, and TSST-1, which increased wit h age. Atopic dermatitis subjects had an increased response to SEB at 6 months to 2 years (76% v 42%) and 2 to 7 years (79% v 57%), and equi valent responses to SEA and TSST-1, compared to controls. It is sugges ted that increased responses to SEB relate to increased colonisation a nd hence exposure to superantigen producing staphylococcus in atopic d ermatitis, and that inflammation of atopic dermatitis is not caused by an inability to make antibody to SAG.