Atopic and non-atopic individuals react to nickel challenge in a similar way. A study of the cytokine profile in nickel-induced contact dermatitis

✍ Scribed by J.C. SZEPIETOWSKI; R.C. MCKENZIE; S.G. KEOHANE; R.D. ALDRIDGE; J.A.A. HUNTER

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1997
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 448 KB
• Volume: 137
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0007-0963
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2133.1997.18051888.x

✦ Synopsis

The influence of atopy on delayed-type hypersensitivity remains unclear. The expression of cytokine mRNA was assessed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in biopsy skin taken 24 h after the application of a 5% NiSO4 patch to five patients with atopic dermatitis and seven non-atopic subjects with previously proven contact allergy to nickel. Control specimens were obtained from untested and vehicle-tested skin from the same individuals. There was a significant increase in the mRNA expression for interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-4 together after nickel challenge in both patients (analysis of variance P = 0.007) and non-atopic-individuals (P = 0.005). In contrast, IL-10 mRNA increased in the non-atopic group only. These results show that atopic patients and normal subjects have a similar immunological reaction to nickel challenge. Moreover, it is suggested that both Th1- and Th2-type cytokines are involved in the immunopathogenesis of contact dermatitis.