Rolipram inhibits staphylococcal enterotoxin B-mediated induction of the human skin-homing receptor on T lymphocytes

The cutaneous lymphocyte-associated antigen defines T lymphocytes with cuta neous tropism under inflammatory conditions. Bacterial infections participa te in cutaneous inflammations, such as atopic dermatitis or psoriasis, Bact erial superantigens, such as staphylococcal enterotoxin B, can activate per ipheral blood mononuclear cells to induce effector T cells bearing the T ce ll skin homing receptor cutaneous lymphocyte-associated antigen via enhance ment of interleukin-12 production. We have identified and characterized the anti-inflammatory effects of different phosphodiesterase inhibitors on thi s system. Our data indicate that the selective type 4 phosphodiesterase inh ibitor rolipram inhibits the Staphylococcal enterotoxin B-mediated generati on of cutaneous lymphocyte-associated antigen positive CD3(+) cells from pe ripheral blood mononuclear cells by reducing interleukin-12 production in a concentration-dependent manner. Conversely, type 3 phosphodiesterase or ty pe 5 phosphodiesterase selective inhibitors were not effective, The rolipra m inhibitory effect was on interleukin-12 production, as exogenously added interleukin-12 could revert rolipram suppression. These results suggest tha t selective type 4 phosphodiesterase inhibition may have beneficial effects on T cell mediated skin inflammatory processes characterized by the presen ce of bacterial infections, that are thought to exacerbate ongoing skin inf lammation.