Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica (Jul 2011)
CD4+CD25+ and CD4+CD25high regulatory T cells in disseminated and localized forms of allergic contact dermatitis: relation to specific cytokines
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate regulatory T lymphocytes (Tregs) in the course of allergiccontact dermatitis (ACD) and to elucidate the role of IL-10 and TGF-b in Tregs activity. Peripheral bloodCD4+CD25+ and CD4+CD25high cells were determined by flow cytometry in patients with acute disseminatedACD (‘ad’, n = 36), acute localized ACD (‘al’, n = 26), and disseminated ACD during remission (‘rd’, n = 27)as well as in controls (n = 22). Serum levels of cytokines were measured using ELISA. The mean percentage ofCD4+CD25+ and CD4+CD25high cells in patients with ad ACD was significantly higher than in controls(p < 0.01) and the remaining patients (p < 0.05). Both cell populations were significantly elevated in personswith widespread skin lesions (p < 0.05). In ad patients the CD4+CD25+ increased during three weeks ofdisease, although the significant increase of CD4+CD25high was noted only in the third week. Patients with adACD showed a significantly decreased serum level of TGF-b1 as compared with controls and the remainingACD patients. IL-10 level did not differ between all groups. The elevated population of CD4+CD25high cells inad ACD patients, and its dependence on the extension of skin lesions, suggest a role of Tregs in regulating thecourse of ACD. The growing Tregs percentages may indicate their peripheral generation during ACD. Thedevelopment of lesions despite an increased population of Tregs suggests their functional defect. The role ofTGF-b1 in the suppressive activity of Tregs cannot be excluded.
