Keratinocyte-expression of interleukin-6 but not of tumour necrosis factor-alpha is increased in the allergic and the irritant patch test reaction.

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Abstract
The cytokine expression on epidermal cells in the allergic patch test reaction (APR) and irritant patch test reaction (IPR) was studied using antibodies against rIL-6, rTNF alpha, rIL-1 alpha and rIL-1 beta in a histochemical biotin-avidin technique. Nickel sulphate was used for APR in 5 nickel allergic patients and sodium lauryl sulphate for IPR in 5 healthy individuals. The individuals served as their own control. Enhanced keratinocyte expression of IL-6 was observed in APR and IPR, whereas staining for TNF alpha remained unaltered compared with non-tested and petrolatum-tested skin. Staining for IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta proved negative in all specimens. Double-staining experiments demonstrated that epidermal and dermal OKT-6 (CD1) positive Langerhans cells (LC) remained negative for all cytokines. These results demonstrate that enhancement of keratinocyte-bound IL-6 does not induce TNF alpha, IL-1 alpha/beta or IL-6 expression by LC during APR or IPR, and that enhanced keratinocyte expression of IL-6 fails to distinguish between these two reactions.

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