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Neuropeptide modulation of Th1 and Th2 cytokines in peripheral blood mononuclear leucocytes in atopic dermatitis and non‐atopic controls
Author(s) -
GORDON D.J.,
OSTLERE L.S.,
HOLDEN C.A.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2133.1997.19862067.x
Subject(s) - vasoactive intestinal peptide , atopic dermatitis , neuropeptide , substance p , cytokine , immunology , peripheral blood mononuclear cell , endocrinology , medicine , neuropeptide y receptor , receptor , biology , in vitro , biochemistry
Summary The neuropeptides substance P (SP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) are present in the nerve endings in the skin and SP is thought to be present at abnormal concentrations in atopic dermatitis (AD) patients. Th1 and Th2 imbalance in AD has been the focus of recent immunological investigations and a preferential Th2 response by atopic cells on stimulation has been proposed. We wished to establish whether neuropeptides acted on T cells to affect their cytokine profile directly, using an accessory cell‐independent stimulus (anti‐CD3 monoclonal antibody) and neuropeptides at several concentrations. We found that interferon (IFN)‐γ and interleukin (IL)‐4 release were lower in AD. SP had an enhancing effect on both IFN‐γ and IL‐4 at physiological concentrations (10 −10 –10 −6 mol/L) in AD, which was significantly different from controls ( P <0.05). VIP had inhibitory effects over this range in AD and in controls. We conclude that these neuropeptides have a modest effect on T‐cell cytokine release and that their action is not cytokine‐specific.