Abstract
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with atopic eczema (AE) stimulated with the 'superantigen' Staphylococcus enterotoxin B (SEB) secreted significantly more interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5 as well as IgE, and markedly less interferon-gamma than those from healthy controls. Our results support the assumption that SEB produced by S. aureus colonizing the skin of patients with AE may induce expansion of IL-4- and IL-5-producing Th2 clones, leading to increased IgE synthesis and eosinophil activation.
MeSH terms
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Antigens, Bacterial / immunology*
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Cells, Cultured
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Culture Media, Conditioned / chemistry
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Dermatitis, Atopic / blood
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Dermatitis, Atopic / immunology*
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Eczema / immunology*
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Eczema / pathology
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Enterotoxins / immunology*
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Humans
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Immunoglobulin E / biosynthesis*
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Interferon-gamma / biosynthesis*
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Interferon-gamma / metabolism
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Interleukin-4 / biosynthesis*
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Interleukin-4 / metabolism
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Interleukin-5 / biosynthesis*
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Interleukin-5 / metabolism
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Lymphocyte Activation / drug effects*
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Staphylococcus aureus / immunology*
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Superantigens / immunology*
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Th2 Cells / immunology*
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Th2 Cells / metabolism
Substances
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Antigens, Bacterial
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Culture Media, Conditioned
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Enterotoxins
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Interleukin-5
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Superantigens
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Interleukin-4
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Immunoglobulin E
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enterotoxin B, staphylococcal
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Interferon-gamma