Lymphocyte transformation tests and subpopulations of lymphocytes in a population-based material of atopic dermatitis in twins
Schultz Larsen, F.; Grunnet, N.
Scandinavian Journal of Immunology 21(4): 375-381
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0300-9475 PMID: 3873685 Document Number: 265430
Lymphocyte function and lymphocyte subpopulations in the peripheral blood were studied in a population-based material of 47 twins with atopic dermatitis (AD (31 with a history of AD, 10 with mild AD and 6 with moderate AD), and in 47 age- and sex-matched non-atopic control twins. Lymphocyte transformations to phytohemagglutinin, concanavalin A (Con A), pokeweed mitogen and purified protein derivative of tuberculin were investigated. Lymphocyte subpopulations were characterized by EAET rosettes, and the monoclonal antibodies OKT3, OKT4 and OKT8. None of these in vitro tests showed any statistically significant differences between patients and controls. In the few individuals with moderate AD there was a statistically insignificant tendency to a decreased Con A stimulation in suboptimal concentration and a reduction of the OKT 8+ cells. However, there were no alterations in the immunological variables between patients with a history of AD and controls. The investigated variables could be related to disease activity. They may represent epiphenomena rather than pathogenetic mechanisms of importance for the development of AD.