Correlation of Blood FoxP3+ Regulatory T Cells and Disease Activity of Atopic Dermatitis

Relation of T Cell Profile with Vitamin D Receptor and Vitamin D-Binding Protein Gene Polymorphisms in Atopy

Atopic diseases, including atopic dermatitis (AD) and allergic asthma (AA), are characterized by complex immune responses involving various T cells subsets and their cytokine profiles. It is assumed that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the Vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene and the Vitamin D-binding protein (GC) gene are related to the action of Vitamin D and, consequently, play a role in regulating the immune response. However, there is not enough data to unequivocally support the hypothesis about the relationship between T cells profile and VDR or GC SNPs. Two hundred sixty-six subjects (aged > 18 years) were involved in the study: 100 patients with mild or moderate AD, 85 patients with mild or moderate AA, and 81 healthy individuals. Blood cell counts were determined by standard methods. Flow cytometric analysis was used to evaluate CD4+ T-helper (Th) cell subtypes: Th2, Th1, Th17, and T regulatory (Treg) cells in peripheral blood. Measurements of cytokines, total immunoglobulin E (IgE), and Vitamin D levels in serum were evaluated by ELISA. Significantly higher levels of Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells, along with lower levels of Tregs, were found in patients with atopic diseases compared to healthy individuals. Additionally, higher serum levels of interleukin (IL) 5, IL-17A, and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), as well as lower levels of IL-10, were observed in patients with atopic diseases than in control. The study established associations between VDR SNPs and immune profiles: the AA genotype of rs731236 was associated with increased Th2 and Th17 cells and a higher Th1/Th2 ratio; the GG genotype of rs731236 was linked to decreased serum IL-10 and TGF-β1 levels; and the TT genotype of rs11168293 was associated with increased IL-10 levels. Additionally, the GG genotype of GC gene SNP rs4588 was associated with reduced Th2 and Th17 lymphocytes, while the TT genotype of rs4588 was linked to decreased IL-10 levels. Furthermore, the CC genotype of rs7041 was associated with higher levels of Th2, Th17, IL-10, and IL-35, as well as reduced levels of TGF-β1, while the GG genotype of rs3733359 was associated with reduced IL-10 levels. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that the Vitamin D receptor gene single nucleotide polymorphisms rs731236 and rs11168293, along with polymorphisms in the Vitamin D-binding protein gene (rs4588, rs7041, rs3733359), are significantly associated with variations in T cell profiles in atopy. These variations may play a crucial role in promoting inflammation and provide insight into the genetic factors contributing to the pathogenesis of atopy.

GDU-952, a novel AhR agonist ameliorates skin barrier abnormalities and immune dysfunction in DNFB-induced atopic dermatitis in mice

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is widely expressed in the skin. It controls immune-mediated skin responses to various external environmental signals, promote terminal differentiation of epidermal keratinocytes and participates the maintenance of the skin barrier function. As a therapeutic target, AhR activation modulates many diseases progression driven by immune/inflammatory processes such as atopic dermatitis (AD) and psoriasis. In this study, we revealed that GDU-952 is a novel AhR agonist, which is able to decreases IgE serum levels, to inhibit pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and TNF-α and to induce immunoregulatory effects through restoring Th1/Th2 immune balance and promoting CD4+FOXP3+regulatory T (Treg) populations in AD skin lesions. Furthermore, GDU-952 can strengthen the skin barrier function through upregulating epidermal differentiation-related and tight junction proteins. This may alleviate AD symptoms, such as dermatitis scores, epidermal hyperplasia and mast cell infiltration. These results offer a rationale for further preclinical/clinical studies to evaluate the possible use of GDU-952 in the management of AD.

Antigen-specific T cell balance reveals Why patients with atopic dermatitis fail to achieve immune tolerance

The number of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and how they behave in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD) are still controversial. We identified and quantified Tregs, mite-specific Tregs, and mite-specific effector T cells (Teffs) in patients with AD and healthy controls (HCs). We collected peripheral blood and analyzed the cells using flow cytometry after stimulation with mite antigens. Mite-specific Tregs and mite-specific Teffs were recognized by the expression of CD137 and CD154, respectively. Patients with AD had more Tregs than HCs; however, when focusing on a single antigen, the ratio of mite-specific Tregs/Teffs was lower in patients with AD than in HCs. Furthermore, the mite-specific Teffs in patients with AD were more likely to produce proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13. This Teff-dominant imbalance is thought to be the cause of development of atopic status in patients with AD without immune tolerance.

Activated Protein C Protects against Murine Contact Dermatitis by Suppressing Protease-Activated Receptor 2

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease associated with excessive inflammation and defective skin barrier function. Activated protein C (APC) is a natural anticoagulant with anti-inflammatory and barrier protective functions. However, the effect of APC on AD and its engagement with protease activated receptor (PAR)1 and PAR2 are unknown. Methods: Contact hypersensitivity (CHS), a model for human AD, was induced in PAR1 knockout (KO), PAR2KO and matched wild type (WT) mice using 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB). Recombinant human APC was administered into these mice as preventative or therapeutic treatment. The effect of APC and PAR1KO or PARKO on CHS was assessed via measurement of ear thickness, skin histologic changes, inflammatory cytokine levels, Th cell phenotypes and keratinocyte function. Results: Compared to WT, PAR2KO but not PAR1KO mice displayed less severe CHS when assessed by ear thickness; PAR1KO CHS skin had less mast cells, lower levels of IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-17 and IL-22, and higher levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TGF-β1, whereas PAR2KO CHS skin only contained lower levels of IL-22 and IgE. Both PAR1KO and PAR2KO spleen cells had less Th1/Th17/Th22/Treg cells. In normal skin, PAR1 was present at the stratum granulosum and spinosum, whereas PAR2 at the upper layers of the epidermis. In CHS, however, the expression of PAR1 and PAR2 were increased and spread to the whole epidermis. In vitro, compared to WT cells, PAR1KO keratinocytes grew much slower, had a lower survival rate and higher para permeability, while PAR2KO cells grew faster, were resistant to apoptosis and para permeability. APC inhibited CHS as a therapeutic but not as a preventative treatment only in WT and PAR1KO mice. APC therapy reduced skin inflammation, suppressed epidermal PAR2 expression, promoted keratinocyte growth, survival, and barrier function in both WT and PAR1KO cells, but not in PAR2KO cells. Conclusions: APC therapy can mitigate CHS. Although APC acts through both PAR1 and PAR2 to regulate Th and mast cells, suppression of clinical disease in mice is achieved mainly via inhibition of PAR2 alone. Thus, APC may confer broad therapeutic benefits as a disease-modifying treatment for AD.

The Role of Cord Blood in the Regulation of the Cellular and Humoral Link of Immunity in Experimental Atopic Dermatitis

Background. Atopic dermatitis (AD) as one of the most common diseases of autoimmune genesis in the structure of dermatological practice, is characterized by itching, dryness, thickening of the skin, characteristic rashes. The drugs of choice in the treatment of AD are steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. However, the development of unwanted side effects is a serious problem attributed to using hormone therapy. The search for effective methods of treating AD is an urgent task of medicine and in particular dermatology. At the same time, there is an obvious need for the participation in the solution of this problem also of specialists-immunologists working in the field of application of cell therapy drugs, acting on various pathogenetic links of the disease. The development of new or optimization of existing methods of treating AD is the urgent task facing them. Objective. Evaluation of the immunocorrective effect of lyophilized (lHCBL) and cryopreserved human cord blood leucoconcetrate (cHCBL) on a AD model. Methods. The experiments were carried out on 6-month-old Wistar rats. Upon induction of AD, the inflammation focus was formed on the rat's back (9–10 cm2) by daily rubbing in a 5% alcohol-acetone solution of dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) for 21 days. cHCBL and lHCBL were injected intraperitoneally, 0.5 ml at a dose of 5´106 cells in one day after the final DNCB treatment. The adhesive and phagocytic activity of the cells of the peritoneal cavity, the level of circulating immune complexes, the population and subpopulation of lymphocytes (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD16+, CD4+CD25+), the immunoregulatory index of lymphocytes, the concentration of immunoglobulins in the blood serum were determined. Results. For AD induced by DNCB, systemic changes in the immune status are characteristic, which is expressed by changes in the parameters of cellular and humoral immunity. The most fundamental changes in cell subpopulations in spleen of rats with AD were revealed: a decrease in the number of total T-lymphocytes and their two main subpopulations (CD4+ and CD8+ cells). Against this background, changes were noted in the monocytic-phagocytic and humoral systems of immunity. The paper shows the effectiveness of the use of cHCBL and lHCBL in the correction of pathological manifestations of experimental AD. On the background of treatment, the features of the immunocorrective effect of each of the drugs were noted. Thus, when assessing intergroup values, a more pronounced increase in T-reg was revealed in rats of the 5th group – 3.9 [3.8; 4.0] versus 3.2 [3.0; 3.3] in the 4th group (P < 0.01); IgA level – 1.6 [1.5; 1.7] versus 1.3 [1.2; 1.4] (P < 0.01). Conclusions. Thus, lHCBL exhibits immunocorrective activity in the treatment of experimental AD, surpassing in some parameters the activity of сHCBL, which is promising for its use in clinical practice.