Luminex LiquiChip System for the Evaluation of Cytokine Levels in Patients with Contact Dermatitis to Potassium Dichromate

Abstract

Background: Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is associated with increased production of cytokines. The patch test is the “gold-standard” diagnostic method, but it poses a risk of false results. Objective: To evaluate a novel laboratory technique, the Luminex LiquiChip, which simultaneously measures blood levels of multiple cytokines, as a diagnostic tool in patients with chrome-induced ACD. Methods: The study group included 20 patients with ACD and relevant patch test results for potassium dichromate and 19 patients with ACD for nickel or fragrance as control. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were cultured in the presence and absence of potassium dichromate. The Luminex LiquiChip was used to measure levels of the following cytokines: granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, interferon-γ, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Results: Potassium dichromate-stimulated PBMCs secreted significantly higher amounts of all cytokines except TNF-α than nonstimulated PBMCs. PBMCs from patients with ACD to chromium secreted significantly higher amounts of all cytokines tested, except IL-4, compared to PBMCs from patients with ACD to nickel or fragrance. Conclusions: Potassium dichromate stimulates the production of both Th1- and Th2-type cytokines in patients with chrome allergy. The Luminex LiquiChip is a promising in vitro method and may serve as a diagnostic tool for ACD.

Cytokine patterns in vitro, in particular IL‐5/IL‐8 ratio, to detect patients with nickel contact allergy

“…In 2013, Martins and Reis reported on in vitro IL‐13 production as potential marker to distinguish chromate‐stimulated in vitro response of PBMC derived from allergic/non‐allergic individuals . In 2017, on the other hand, Akerman et al . stated on their experiments with PBMC cultured with/without potassium dichromate that ‘PBMCs from patients with ACD to chromium secreted significantly higher amounts of all cytokines tested, except IL‐4’.…”

T-Helper 22 Cell Type Responses to Nickel in Contact Allergic Subjects Are Associated with T-Helper 1, T-Helper 2, and T-Helper 17 Cell Cytokine Profile Responses and Patch Test Reactivity

“…The cytokines investigated herein represent signature cytokines from different Th populations: IFN-γ for Th1; IL-5, IL-13, and IL-31 for Th2; IL-17A for Th17; IL-22 for Th22. IL-2 and IL-3 that are more general markers of Th activation were also measured, as was IL-6, shown to be secreted by potassium dichromate-stimulated PBMC from allergic subjects [ 26 ]. Using ELISpot, production of the Th2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-13 by Ni-stimulated PBMC from the same allergic subjects as in this study was previously shown to be strongly correlated with patch test reactivity [ 23 ].…”