Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Phenotypical Characteristics of the Immune Cells in Allergic Contact Dermatitis, Atopic Dermatitis and Pityriasis Rosea

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Pathology & Oncology Research

Abstract

Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is a cell-mediated, delayed type IV immunologic reaction. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that results from a complex interaction between immunologic, genetic, and environmental factors. Pityriasis rosea (PR) is a self-limited eruption of unknown etiology. Immune cell infiltrate is a constant feature in the inflammatory skin diseases. Here, we performed phenotypical characterization of the immune cells in ACD, AD and PR (ten cases each). We performed immunohistochemical stains for B cells (CD20), T cells (CD3), histiocytes (CD68) and T cells with cytotoxic activity (granzyme-B). The data were compared with findings in 20 specimens of normal skin. The results were scored as mean values of positively stained immune cells. Immunohistochemistry showed significantly high counts of immune cells in lesional skin (ACD, AD and PR) compared to the normal one (p < 0.05). In the lesional skin, the immune cells were composed predominantly of CD3+ T lymphocytes and CD68+ cells (histiocytes). Some of the CD3+ cells were granzyme B+. The counts of some immune cells (CD3+ and CD68+) were high in ACD compared to AD and PR. The counts of CD20+ and granzyme B+ cells were high in PR compared to ACD and AD. However, these differences did not reach the level of statistical significance. The present data describe the profile of the immune cell infiltrate in AD, ACD and PR. The cell-mediated immunity seems to have critical role in the development of these lesions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

AD:

Atopic dermatitis

PR:

Pityriasis rosea

ACD:

Allergic contact dermatitis

References

  1. McCleskey PE, Swerlick RA (2001) Clinical review: thioureas and allergic contact dermatitis. Cutis 68:387–396

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Felter SP, Robinson MK, Basketter DA, Gerberick GF (2002) A review of the scientific basis for uncertainty factors for use in quantitative risk assessment for the induction of allergic contact dermatitis. Contact Dermatitis 47:257–266

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Brasch J, Burgard J, Sterry W (1992) Common pathogenetic pathways in allergic and irritant contact dermatitis. J Invest Dermatol 98:166–170

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Hunger RE, Yawalkar N, Braathen LR, Brand CU (2001) CD1a-positive dendritic cells transport the antigen DNCB intracellularly from the skin to the regional lymph nodes in the induction phase of allergic contact dermatitis. Arch Dermatol Res 293:420–426

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Yawalkar N, Schmid S, Braathen LR, Pichler WJ (2001) Perforin and granzyme B may contribute to skin inflammation in atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. Br J Dermatol 144:1133–1139

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Deguchi M, Aiba S, Ohtani H, Nagura H, Tagami H (2002) Comparison of the distribution and numbers of antigen-presenting cells among T-lymphocyte-mediated dermatoses: CD1a+, factor XIIIa+, and CD68+ cells in eczematous dermatitis, psoriasis, lichen planus and graft-versus-host disease. Arch Dermatol Res 294:297–302

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Kwong CW, Sang WK (2000) Re: One-year review of pityriasis rosea at the National Skin Centre, Singapore. Ann Acad Med Singapore 29:548

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Cavanaugh RM Jr (1983) Pityriasis rosea in children. A review. Clin Pediatr (Phila) 22:200–203

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Chuh AA, Chan HH, Zawar V (2004) Is human herpesvirus 7 the causative agent of pityriasis rosea?-A critical review. Int J Dermatol 43:870–785

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Reinhold U, Kukel S, Goeden B, Neumann U, Wehrmann W, Kreysel HW (1991) Interleukin-4 promotes the expansion of skin-infiltrating lymphocytes from atopic dermatitis in vitro. J Invest Dermatol 96:370–375

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Jung K, Linse F, Pals ST, Heller R, Moths C, Neumann C (1997) Adhesion molecules in atopic dermatitis: patch tests elicited by house dust mite. Contact Dermatitis 37:163–172

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Baker BS, Lambert S, Powles AV, Valdimarsson H, Fry L (1988) Epidermal DR+ T6-dendritic cells in inflammatory skin diseases. Acta Derm Venereol 68:209–217

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Bos JD, Hagenaars C, Das PK, Krieg SR, Voorn WJ, Kapsenberg ML (1989) Predominance of “memory” T cells (CD4+, CDw29+) over “naive” T cells (CD4+, CD45R+) in both normal and diseased human skin. Arch Dermatol Res 281:24–30

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Hussein MR, Ahmed RA (2005) Analysis of the mononuclear inflammatory cell infiltrate in the non-tumorigenic, pre-tumorigenic and tumorigenic keratinocytic hyperproliferative lesions of the skin. Cancer Biol Ther 4:819–821

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Hussein MR, Elsers DA, Fadel SA, Omar AE (2006) Immunohistological characterisation of tumour infiltrating lymphocytes in melanocytic skin lesions. J Clin Pathol 59:316–324

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Hussein MR, Ahmed RA (2005) Analysis of the mononuclear inflammatory cell infiltrate in the cirrhotic, dysplastic nodules and hepatocellular carcinomas in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection. Cancer Biol Ther 4:1075–1078

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Hussein MR, Abou-Deif ES, Bedaiwy MA, Said TM, Mustafa MG, Nada E, Ezat A, Agarwal A (2005) Phenotypic characterization of the immune and mast cell infiltrates in the human testis shows normal and abnormal spermatogenesis. Fertil Steril 83:1447–1453

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Gerber BO, Zanni MP, Uguccioni M, Loetscher M, Mackay CR, Pichler WJ, Yawalkar N, Baggiolini M, Moser B (1997) Functional expression of the eotaxin receptor CCR3 in T lymphocytes co-localizing with eosinophils. Curr Biol 7:836–843

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Amerio P, Frezzolini A, Feliciani C, Verdolini R, Teofoli P, De Pita O, Puddu P (2003) Eotaxins and CCR3 receptor in inflammatory and allergic skin diseases: therapeutical implications. Curr Drug Targets Inflamm Allergy 2:81–94

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Ying S, Barata LT, Meng Q, Grant JA, Barkans J, Durham SR, Kay AB (1998) High-affinity immunoglobulin E receptor (Fc epsilon RI)-bearing eosinophils, mast cells, macrophages and Langerhans’ cells in allergen-induced late-phase cutaneous reactions in atopic subjects. Immunology 93:281–288

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Ying S, Meng Q, Barata LT, Kay AB (2001) Macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha and C-C chemokine receptor-1 in allergen-induced skin late-phase reactions: relationship to macrophages, neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils and T lymphocytes. Clin Exp Allergy 31:1724–1731

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Howe K, Foresman P, Griffin T, Johnson W (1996) Pityriasis rubra pilaris with acantholysis. J Cutan Pathol 23:270–274

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Reinhold U, Kukel S, Goeden B, Neumann U, Kreysel HW (1991) Functional characterization of skin-infiltrating lymphocytes in atopic dermatitis. Clin Exp Immunol 86:444–448

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Lugovic L, Lipozenocic J, Jakic-Razumovic J (2001) Atopic dermatitis: immunophenotyping of inflammatory cells in skin lesions. Int J Dermatol 40:489–494

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Nordlind K, Liden S (1995) Gamma/delta T cells and human skin reactivity to heavy metals. Arch Dermatol Res 287:137–141

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Kiekens RC, Thepen T, Oosting AJ, Bihari IC, Van De Winkel JG, Bruijnzeel-Koomen CA, Knol EF (2001) Heterogeneity within tissue-specific macrophage and dendritic cell populations during cutaneous inflammation in atopic dermatitis. Br J Dermatol 145:957–965

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Cantani A (2001) Pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD) and the role of allergic factors. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 5:95–117

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Bjerke JR (2002) The skin as an immunological organ. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen 122:793–796

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Yawalkar N, Hunger RE, Buri C, Schmid S, Egli F, Brand CU, Mueller C, Pichler WJ, Braathen LR (2001) A comparative study of the expression of cytotoxic proteins in allergic contact dermatitis and psoriasis: spongiotic skin lesions in allergic contact dermatitis are highly infiltrated by T cells expressing perforin and granzyme B. Am J Pathol 158:803–808

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Caproni M, Torchia D, Antiga E, Terranova M, Volpi W, Del Bianco E, D’Agata A, Fabbri P (2007) The comparative effects of tacrolimus and hydrocortisone in adult atopic dermatitis: an immunohistochemical study. Br J Dermatol 156:312–319

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Hussein MR (2005) Tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes and melanoma tumorigenesis: an insight. Br J Dermatol 153:18–21

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Mahmoud Rezk A. Hussein

    Present address: Assir Central Hospital, Abha, KSA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Assuit University Hospitals, Assuit University, Assuit, Egypt

    Mahmoud Rezk A. Hussein

  2. Department of Dermatology, Sohag University Hospitals, Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University, Sohag, Egypt

    Wafaa M. Abdel-Magid, Ramadan Saleh & Essam Nada

Authors
  1. Mahmoud Rezk A. Hussein
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Wafaa M. Abdel-Magid
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ramadan Saleh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Essam Nada
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mahmoud Rezk A. Hussein.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hussein, M.R.A., Abdel-Magid, W.M., Saleh, R. et al. Phenotypical Characteristics of the Immune Cells in Allergic Contact Dermatitis, Atopic Dermatitis and Pityriasis Rosea. Pathol. Oncol. Res. 15, 73–79 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12253-008-9103-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12253-008-9103-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation