Adult atopic dermatitis: Evaluation of TH17 and TH22 cytokines in peripheral blood mononuclear cells induced by staphylococcal enterotoxins A and B

Abstract

Objective: Evaluation of interleukins (IL) 17, 22, and 23 induced by Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin stimulation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of adults with atopic dermatitis. Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, inflammatory disease with a high prevalence and complex etiopathogenesis.S aureusis present in 80% to 100% of AD patients, and secretes exotoxins that might relate to its pathogenesis. TH17 has been described as playing a major role in inflammatory diseases with a close relationship to bacterial pathogens, as well as TH22 in modulating the immunopathogenesis of some skin diseases. Methods: Thirty-eight AD patients (mean age, 28.55), 19 female and 19 male, and 40 healthy controls (mean age, 34.1), 21 females and 19 males (without personal or family history of atopy and negative prick-test) were selected. Hanifin and Rajka’s criteria were used to diagnose AD. Disease severity was established according to EASI (Eczema Area and Severity Index). IL-17, IL-22, and IL-23 production from PBMC after staphylococcal enterotoxins A (SEA) and B (SEB), and phytohemaglutinin (PHA) stimuli and IL-22 serum levels were measured by ELISA. Results: In AD patients, there was increased IL-22 levels in sera as well as in vitro secretion by PBMC after SEA and SEB stimuli, when compared to healthy controls. No correlation between IL-22 levels and EASI was observed (P ≤ .05). Conclusion: These findings suggest an involvement of TH22 subtype in the pathogenesis of adults with AD, especially because of its link to S aureus enterotoxins.