sq-23377 and Urticaria

Human immune cells, included T helper cells and T cytotoxic/suppressor cells, may be divided into two distinct subtypes according to the profile of secreted cytokines. The allergic disorders are characterised by type 2 lymphocyte response, while the autoimmune diseases are associated with type 1 response. The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of flow cytometric analysis of intracellular expression of cytokines typical for type 2 (IL-4) and type 1 response (IFN-gamma) in helper and cytotoxic/suppressor T cells in patients with chronic urticaria or intermittent allergic rhinitis. 10 subjects (6 male) with intermittent allergic rhinitis (a group ALER) and 6 subjects (1 male) with chronic urticaria (a group PP) were included into the study. The intracellular expression of IL-4 and IFN-gamma in CD4+ or CD8+ cells after stimulation with ionomycin/PMA was estimated by flow cytometer (FACSCalibur, Becton Dickinson) and serum levels of both cytokines were assessed with ELISA (R & D Systems) in all subjects. The percentage of CD4+ cell producing IFN-gamma was statistically higher in the PP group than in the ALER group, and the percentage of IL-4 producing CD8+ cells was also higher, although non significantly. The intracellular expression of IL-4 was comparable in both cell populations in the two examined groups. The surface expression of CD4 diminished after stimulation with PMA in all subjects. No correlations between serum level and intracellular expression of the examined cytokines were observed.. A tendency to the predominance of type 1 response of T lymphocytes was observed in chronic urticaria compared to intermittent allergic rhinitis.

Topics: Adult; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Flow Cytometry; Humans; Interferon-gamma; Interleukin-4; Ionomycin; Male; Middle Aged; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal; Th1 Cells; Th2 Cells; Urticaria