Lack of Correlation between in vitro Immunological Alterations and the Development of Scleroderma-Like Skin Lesions in Toxic Oil Syndrome Patients

Abstract

We examined whether immunological disturbances could influence the development of scleroderma-like skin lesions in patients affected by the Spanish toxic oil syndrome (TOS). To this end, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were collected from 13 chronic patients and 8 control subjects. All patients had suffered a toxic-induced severe neuromyopathy, and 6, in addition, had developed sclerodermoid skin manifestations. The phenotypic profile and the concentrations of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and of molecules with B cell differentiation factor IgG activity (BCDF-IgG) in supernatants of phytohemagglutinin-stimulated lymphocytes were analyzed both in patients and in normal controls. Molecules with BCDF-lgG activity were found increased in supernatants of mitogen-stimulated lymphocytes from TOS patients. Concentrations of IgG secreted by staphylococcus aureus-SAC-B blasts in the presence of TOS PBMC supernatant was 88 ± 32.62 ng/ml (mean ± 1 SD) versus 53 ± 5.34ng/ml in the presence of control supernatant (p < 0.01). Levels of BCDF-lgG activity in TOS PBMC supernatants positively correlated with IgG serum levels (r = 0.69, p < O.01). The phenotypic profile of lymphocyte populations and the production of IL-2 were not altered in TOS subjects. No statistically significant differences were observed in the lymphocyte distribution nor in the IL-2 and BCDF-lgG production when comparing patients with or without scleroderma-like skin lesions. The results indicate that there was a dysfunction of the immune response in TOS subjects, which, however, was not sufficient for the development of the sclerodermoid lesions.

Nodular Scleroderma in a Worker Using a Silica‐containing Abrasive

“…There was no familial history of atopic conditions. Several reports have suggested an association of high IgE levels with scleroderma-like symptoms in toxic oil syndrome, especially in the acute phase (11,12). Patients with PSS who have been exposed to silica dust occupationally have a significantly higher number of activated T cells and eosinophils in their peripheral blood than patients without such exposure (13).…”