Differences in systemic and skin migrating-specific CD4 T cells in papular urticaria by flea bite.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Papular urticaria by flea bite is a chronic allergic condition in which clinical improvement may occur at the age of 7 years, thus representing a natural model of acquired immunologic tolerance in humans. The aim of this study was to characterize regulatory cells and specific responses to flea antigens of CD4(+) T lymphocytes expressing cutaneous migration markers in patients with papular urticaria caused by flea bite and with different disease evolution times.

METHODS:

Cell populations were characterized by flow cytometry in samples from patients and healthy controls. Specific cell stimulation was performed with a complete flea body extract. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparisons.

RESULTS:

Total dendritic cells were lower in patients than in healthy controls. No quantitative differences were found in CD4 regulatory T cells. CD4(+) T cells from patients produced more IL-4, lL-10, IL-17, and IFN-γ. Patients who experienced the onset of symptoms within the first 5 years of age showed a greater percentage of local (cutaneous lymphocyte antigen +) IL-4- and IL-17-producing cells, while patients who experienced the onset of symptoms after the age of 5 years had a higher percentage of systemic (cutaneous lymphocyte antigen -) IL-10-producing cells.

CONCLUSION:

Analysis of the cellular immune response against whole flea antigen in patients with papular urticaria by flea bites suggests a possible participation of inflammatory cytokines in the skin reaction (Th17) and a systemic control mechanism (IL-10). This pattern of cytokine production in patients could be a consequence of an impaired dendritic cell population.

• Authors: Omar Dominguez-Amorocho, Silvia Duarte, John Mario González, Evelyne Halpert, María Claudia Ortega, Adriana Rodríguez, Elizabeth García, Adriana Cuellar
• Journal: International archives of allergy and immunology (Int Arch Allergy Immunol) Vol. 160 Issue 2 Pg. 165-72 ( 2013) ISSN: 1423-0097 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 23018588 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Chemical References

• Cytokines

Topics

• Age of Onset
• Animals
• CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes (cytology, immunology)
• Chemotaxis, Leukocyte (immunology)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Cytokines (biosynthesis, immunology)
• Female
• Flow Cytometry
• Humans
• Insect Bites and Stings (complications, immunology)
• Male
• Siphonaptera (immunology)
• Skin (immunology, pathology)
• Urticaria (etiology, immunology, metabolism)