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Interleukin‐4 and the interleukin‐4 receptor in allergic contact dermatitis
Author(s) -
Rowe A.,
Bunker C. B.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
contact dermatitis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.524
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1600-0536
pISSN - 0105-1873
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0536.1998.tb05634.x
Subject(s) - psoriasis , medicine , atopic dermatitis , allergic contact dermatitis , immunology , immunohistochemistry , interleukin 4 , immune system , interleukin , interleukin 5 , receptor , allergy , pathology , cytokine
Cutaneous immune responses involving T helper (TH) type 1 (TH1) and type 2 (TH2) T cells, characterised by secretion of interferon‐γ (Ifn‐γ) and interleukin‐4 (IL‐4), respectively, have both been reported in allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). We used immunohistochemistry to localize expression of IL‐4 in ACD lesions and unaffected skin. Atopic dermatitis (AD) and psoriasis biopsies provided positive and negative IL‐4 immunoreactivity controls. To investigate the rôle of IL‐4 in ACD, we investigated expression of IL‐4 receptors in ACD, AD and psoriatic skin. IL‐4 immunoreactivity was found in cells in the dermal infiltrate in 3 out of 7 ACD lesions, but not in unaffected skin from these patients. IL‐4 immunoreactivity was found in the dermal infiltrate of all lesional and unaffected AD biopsies, but in none of the psoriatic biopsies. IL‐4 receptor α chain immunoreactivity, associated with dermal mast cells, was found in all patients. Local expression of IL‐4 in ACD indicates either TH2 or TH0 immunoregulation in some allergic contact dermatitis lesions. Our findings do not support exclusive TH1 or TH2 cutaneous immune responses in ACD. Expression of IL‐4 receptors by cutaneous mast cells provides a route through which local effects of IL‐4 might be mediated.