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Atopic Dermatitis Therapy
Studies from C. Brandt and colleagues yield new information about atopic dermatitis therapy
November 7th, 2009
Current study results from the report, 'Low-dose cyclosporine A therapy increases the regulatory T cell population in patients with atopic dermatitis,' have been published. According to recent research from Berlin, Germany, "Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a T cell dependent chronic relapsing inflammatory skin disorder successfully treated with cyclosporine A (CsA). Clinical observations indicate that even low-dose CsA therapy is successful in severely affected AD patients." "We studied the impact of low-dose CsA therapy on the ability of T helper cells to be activated, and examined whether regulatory T (Treg) cells are increased in these patients. Peripheral T cells were activated in a whole blood sample and interleukin-2 producing cells were measured by intracellular cytokine staining. Regulatory T cells were analyzed by intracellular FoxP3 staining. Regulatory T cells (CD4(+)CD25(+)CD127(low)) and effector T cells (CD4(+)CD25(-)CD127(+)) were sorted by flow cytometry and used for suppression assays. A group of AD patients treated with low-dose CsA had a significantly larger Treg cell population than a healthy control subject group. In individual patients, onset of low-dose CsA therapy reduced the ability of T cells to be activated to 42 +/-18% (p <0.005) and significantly increased Treg cells, both in absolute numbers (1.6-fold change) and frequencies (1.7-fold change). Treg cells from AD patients showed similar suppressive capacities as Treg cells from healthy donors. Furthermore, Treg cells from AD patients had skin homing properties," wrote C. Brandt and colleagues, . The researchers concluded: "Our results indicate that the therapeutic effect of low-dose CsA therapy in AD patients might be not only mediated by the inhibition of T cell hyperactivity but also by an increased population of Treg cells." Brandt and colleagues published their study in Allergy (Low-dose cyclosporine A therapy increases the regulatory T cell population in patients with atopic dermatitis. Allergy, 2009;64(11):1588-96). For additional information, contact C. Brandt, Deutsches Rheuma-Forschungszentrum, Berlin, Germany. Publisher contact information for the journal Allergy is: Blackwell Publishing Inc., 350 Main St., Malden, MA 02148, USA. Keywords: Germany, Berlin, Atopic Dermatitis Therapy, Allergies, Allergy Medicine, Atopic Dermatitis, Cyclosporine, Cytometry, Dermatology, Drugs, Mental Health, Pharmaceuticals, Therapy, Treatment. This article was prepared by NewsRx editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, NewsRx.com.
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