Effect of staphylococcal enterotoxin B on specific antibody production in children with atopic dermatitis

Allergy Asthma Proc. 2003 Jan-Feb;24(1):67-71.

Abstract

Exotoxins secreted by Staphylococcus aureus have been identified as a possible trigger factor in atopic dermatitis (AD). We investigated the production and role of circulating antibodies, with specificity to staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), in children with AD compared with those of healthy controls. The children with AD had significantly higher levels of serum SEB-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG; p = 0.0193), IgM (p = 0.011), and IgE (p = 0.0001) than the nonatopic children. The proportions of IgG, IgM, and IgE seropositivity in children with AD were 52.5% (21/40), 62.5% (25/40), and 67.5% (27/40), respectively. The levels of SEB-specific IgE and the severity of AD (p = 0.0004) were compared, but no correlation was seen for IgG or IgM. SEB may be involved in exacerbation of AD. SEB-specific IgE may be an important index of the clinical severity of AD. The SEB-specific IgG or IgM was produced during the exposure to the SEB antigen but may not be protective against SEB in AD.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Age Factors
  • Antibody Formation / immunology*
  • Antibody Specificity / immunology
  • Child
  • Child Welfare
  • Child, Preschool
  • Dermatitis, Atopic / blood*
  • Dermatitis, Atopic / immunology*
  • Enterotoxins / immunology*
  • Enterotoxins / pharmacology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin E / blood
  • Immunoglobulin E / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin M / blood
  • Immunoglobulin M / immunology
  • Infant
  • Infant Welfare
  • Male
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Enterotoxins
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin M
  • Immunoglobulin E
  • enterotoxin B, staphylococcal