Fc epsilon receptor II/CD23 positive lymphocytes in atopic dermatitis: II. Infiltration of Fc epsilon R II(+) T cells in the skin lesion.

Cells expressing Fc receptors for IgE (Fc epsilon R II) were identified in skin from patients with atopic dermatitis (AD), eczematous dermatitis (ED), and in skin from normal nonatopic subjects, with the use of monoclonal antibodies to human lymphocyte Fc epsilon R II, H107, and to lymphoid cell-surface antigens by double immunofluorescence staining. Two to four percent of infiltrating mononuclear cells expressed Fc epsilon R II, and more than half of these cells were T epsilon cells in both acute and chronic AD lesions. Fc epsilon R II(+) T cells (T epsilon cells) bearing CD8 infiltrated preferentially acute lesions, whereas chronic lesions contained either CD8(+) or CD4(+) T epsilon cells, or both. Fc epsilon R II(+) cells rarely were present in ED lesions. There was no significant correlation between % Fc epsilon R II(+) peripheral blood mononuclear cells and the proportion of lesional Fc epsilon R II(+) cells, extent of skin lesions, or serum IgE levels, implying the selective accumulation of Fc epsilon R II(+) cells in the inflammatory infiltrate of AD. These observations suggest that the increased generation of Fc epsilon R II(+) cells in skin lesions, including CD8 (+) T epsilon cells, is involved in the pathogenesis of AD.

Halo congenital nevus undergoing spontaneous regression. Involvement of T-cell immunity in involution and presence of circulating anti-nevus cell IgM antibodies.

BACKGROUND: Halo congenital nevus is a condition in which halo formation is associated with congenital nevocellular nevi. Although several theories have been proposed, the immunologic mechanisms of halo formation and concomitant nevus regression still remain unclear. We presented immunologic findings in a case of halo congenital nevus with unique histologic location of inflammatory cells. OBSERVATIONS: Histologically, the present case of halo congenital nevus undergoing spontaneous regression showed a marked inflammatory infiltrate with remnants of original nevus cell nests. In the infiltrating T cells, CD8+ cells outnumbered CD4+ cells and the infiltrate of natural killer cells was not substantial. Direct and indirect immunofluorescence studies demonstrated the presence of IgM antibodies against nevus cells as well as melanoma cells and cultured melanocytes in the patient's serum. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that both T-cell-mediated immunity and IgM antibodies may be involved in the regression of halo congenital nevus. However, it is important to point out that our results may simply be epiphenomena and not directly responsible for the destruction of nevus cells.

Severe hypersensitivity to mosquito bites associated with natural killer cell lymphocytosis.

A 2-year-old girl showed exaggerated skin reactions to mosquito bites and associated general symptoms, including a high temperature, lymphadenopathy, and hepatosplenomegaly. Peripheral blood lymphocytes contained a high percentage of CD2+, CD3-, CD4-, CD8-, CD11b+, CD16+, CD38+, CD56+, CD57-, and HLA-DR+ large granular lymphocytes that exhibited a marked natural killer cell activity. Immunohistochemically, biopsy specimens taken from the lesional skin demonstrated an infiltrate of the cells bearing the natural killer cell phenotype, indicating a role of these cells in the development of the abnormal skin reactions to mosquito bites and other systemic manifestations. Our case suggests that natural killer cell lymphocytosis may show severe hypersensitivity to mosquito bites as the most outstanding manifestation.

A highly sensitive colorimetric determination of serum zinc using water-soluble pyridylazo dye.

A colorimetric method for precise and accurate determination of zinc in serum is presented. Only 0.3 ml of sample is necessary, because of the use of a new, highly sensitive reagent, 2-(5-bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-(N-n-propyl-N-3-sulfopropylamino)-phenol (epsilon 554nm = 1.3 X 10(5) 1 . mol-1 . cm-1), which is water-soluble and has long-term stability. Interference of iron and copper in serum can be removed by co-precipitation of the iron fluoride complex with trichloroacetic acid precipitated proteins and the copper dithiocarboxy sarcosine complex, respectively. Within-run and day-to-day precision (CV) are in the range of 0.3-3.5% and 1.9-3.1%, respectively, depending on the serum zinc content. A good correlation (r = 0.98, p less than 0.05) was obtained between this method and atomic absorption spectrometry. In contrast to previous colorimetric methods, the present method does not involve heating, extraction with organic solvents, or a cyanide masking system.

Fc epsilon receptor II/CD23-positive lymphocytes in atopic dermatitis. I. The proportion of Fc epsilon RII+ lymphocytes correlates with the extent of skin lesion.

Cells expressing Fc receptors for IgE (Fc epsilon RII) were identified in the peripheral blood from patients with atopic dermatitis and with eczematous dermatitis, and normal non-atopic subjects by using monoclonal antibodies to human lymphocyte Fc epsilon RII, and to lymphoid cell-surface antigens by immunofluorescence staining. Based on the extent of the dermatitis patients were classified as severe (greater than 50% skin surface involved), moderate (50-10%) and mild (less than 10%). Patients with severe and moderate atopic dermatitis had 5.9% and 5.7% Fc epsilon RII+ peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), respectively, that were significantly higher than percentages in mild atopic dermatitis patients (2.6%), severe to moderate eczematous dermatitis patients (2.3%), mild eczematous dermatitis patients (2.2%) and normal individuals (1.7%)(0.05 greater than P). In severe and moderate atopic dermatitis patients, 10% of Fc epsilon RII+ PBMC were T cells that preferentially expressed CD8, and the remainder B cells and monocytes. Fc epsilon RII+ T cells comprised 1% of peripheral T cells, while half or more of peripheral B cells expressed Fc epsilon RII. In mild atopic dermatitis patients, eczematous dermatitis patients and normal subjects. Fc epsilon RII were expressed exclusively on 25-35% of peripheral B cells. Short-term treatment and long-term follow-up of atopic dermatitis patients revealed that changes in the skin condition were related closely to fluctuations in the proportion of Fc epsilon RII+ PBMC. Total serum IgE levels and atopic respiratory allergy did not influence the percentage of Fc epsilon RII+ PBMC. These findings suggest that the percentage of Fc epsilon RII+ PBMC reflects the extent of atopic dermatitis.

[Localization of HTLV-I-associated antigens in adult T cell leukemia cells and HTLV-I-infected cell line cells].

Localization of HTLV-I-associated antigens was studied in adult T cell leukemia (ATL) cells and HTLV-I-infected cell line cells using monoclonal and human polyclonal antibodies against the viral-related antigens. Two monoclonal antibodies that we obtained by hybridoma technique reacted with HTLV-I-virus core antigens, P19 and P24, respectively. Human anti-HTLV-I-antibodies, which were purified from sera from ATL patients reacted with not only HTLV-I virus particles but also their precursors located in the cytoplasm. In tumor cells freshly isolated from ATL patients, no expression of the virus antigens was observed. When the cells were cultured for several days, the virus antigens were defined in about 3-5% of the cultured cells by the monoclonal antibodies, and in 5-10% by the purified human anti-HTLV-I antibodies. Addition of 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine to the culture inhibited cell growth, and at the same time, increased the percentage of the virus antigen-positive cells. Established HTLV-I-infected cell lines showed different cytological profiles from the original ATL cells in the viral replication and morphology.