Pityrosporum and Candida specific and non-specific humoral, cellular and cytokine responses in atopic dermatitis patients

Abstract

The cytokine profiles found in this study support the role of TH0 or TH1 cells by the side of TH2 cells in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis. Pityrosporum ovale appears to be associated more with IL-4 responses and C. albicans with IFNgamma responses.

Atopic Dermatitis and Fungi

“…Several correlations were found between total and yeast-specific IgE levels in serum, Malassezia-specific lymphoproliferation, PHA-induced IL-2, IL-4, and IL-5 levels, and C. albicansinduced IL-5 levels. The cytokine profiles found in this study for Malassezia were in parallel with and close to the results (135). So far, the results of cytokine production of lymphocytes have been mentioned.…”

“…Many reports clearly indicate the role of Malassezia in AD, especially AD located to the head and neck area in adults (19,26,29,30,41,62,66,69,74,83,98,109,125,131,132,135,136,137,148,149,154). The Malassezia yeasts have been cultured from patients with AD with the same frequency as from healthy individuals (19,41,52).…”

“…Savolainen et al have recently tried to characterize the Malassezia-and C. albicans-specific and -nonspecific humoral, lymphoproliferative, and cytokine responses in AD patients compared to healthy controls (135). Malassezia-and C. albicans-specific IgE levels and Malassezia-induced PBMC proliferation were elevated in AD patients.…”

“…The yeasts Malassezia and Candida may aggravate AD due to an allergic reaction (18,40,41,135). In particular, the role of the Malassezia yeasts is now documented in several papers (18,40,41).…”

“…Malassezia species are members of the normal human cutaneous flora, and a defect in the skin barrier may facilitate the contact of these yeasts with the immune system (41). Candida yeasts are members of the normal flora of mucous membranes, and the major contact with the immune system is through the gastrointestinal tract and, in women, even through the vagina (111,135). Chronic dermatophyte infections are more common in patients with AD, and dermatophytes, especially Trichophyton rubrum, may act as allergens (79,139).…”