Premium
The effect of topical steroid application on natural killer cell activity
Author(s) -
LESKO M. J.,
LEVER ROSEMARY S.,
MACKIE RONA M.,
PARROTT DELPHINE M. V.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
clinical and experimental allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.462
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1365-2222
pISSN - 0954-7894
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2222.1989.tb02759.x
Subject(s) - atopic dermatitis , steroid , natural killer cell , betamethasone , medicine , cell , immunology , cell function , pharmacology , biology , hormone , cytotoxicity , biochemistry , in vitro
Summary Peripheral blood natural killer (NK) cell activity of a group of 10 healthy non‐atopic volunteers was reduced following the topical application of 15 g of 0.1 % betamethasone valerate ointment to the skin nightly for 1 week. In contrast, no such effect was observed when the inactive base of the steroid ointment was used. NK cell activity dropped significantly by day 7 ( P < 0.05) and then recovered, although NK cell activity at day 22 was still lower than that observed at the start of the experiment. These findings suggest that topically applied steroid is absorbed in sufficient amounts to cause a systemic effect on NK cell function. This may have implications in a number of dermatological disorders, including atopic dermatitis, where topical steroids form the mainstay of treatment.