Imbalance of CD4+CD29+ and CD4+CD45RA+ T-helper cell subsets in peripheral blood of patients with severe atopic dermatitis

Abstract
To determine the proportion of T-helper cell subsets in the peripheral blood we studied 16 patients with mild, moderate and severe atopic dermatitis. Lymphocytes were isolated from heparinized peripheral blood and analysed by two-colour flow cytometry. Patients with severe atopic dermatitis had a decreased CD4+CD29+∶CD4+CD45RA+ ratio (ppp<0.05) in the peripheral blood. No significant changes in the CD4+CD29+∶CD4+CD45RA+ ratio were found in the peripheral blood of patients with clinically mild or moderate atopic dermatitis.