Atopic and non‐atopic individuals react to nickel challenge in a similar way. A study of the cytokine profile in nickel‐induced contact dermatitis
- 1 August 1997
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in British Journal of Dermatology
- Vol. 137 (2) , 195-200
- https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2133.1997.18051888.x
Abstract
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% NiS04 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-γ (IFN-γ), 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.Keywords
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