RESEARCH - Nickel, cobalt, chromium, palladium and gold induce a mixed Th1- and Th2-type cytokine response in vitro in subjects with contact allergy to the respective metals

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Clin Exp Immunol. 2006 Dec;146(3):417-26.

Nickel, cobalt, chromium, palladium and gold induce a mixed Th1- and

Th2-type cytokine response in vitro in subjects with contact allergy to the

respective metals.

Minang JT, Areström I, Troye-Blomberg M, Lundeberg L, Ahlborg N.

Department of Immunology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.

Nickel (Ni), the main cause of contact allergy to metals, induces in vitro

production of both Th1- and Th2-type cytokines in peripheral blood

mononuclear cells (PBMC) from allergic subjects. Because the knowledge of

the cellular immune response to other metals involved in contact allergy has

been limited, we investigated the cytokine profile induced by Ni, cobalt

(Co), chromium (Cr), palladium (Pd) and gold (Au) in PBMC from patients with

patch test reactivity to the respective metals. PBMC from patients with

patch test reactivity to Ni, Co, Cr, Au and/or Pd (n = 31) and non-allergic

controls (n = 5) were stimulated in vitro with corresponding metal salts.

Th1- [interleukin (IL)-2 and interferon (IFN)-gamma] and Th2- (IL-4 and

IL-13) type cytokine responses were measured by enzyme-linked immunospot

(ELISpot) and/or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). All metals

induced a mixed Th1- and Th2-type cytokine production in PBMC from

individual patients with patch test reactivity to the corresponding metal,

but not in control PBMC. Significantly higher responses in the patient

versus controls were found for Cr (IL-2 and IL-13), Pd (IL-2 and IL-4), Au

(IL-13 and IFN-gamma) (all P < 0.05) and Ni (all four cytokines; P < 0.01)

but not Co. Overall, 71% (37/52) and 89% (81/91) of the positive and

negative patch test reactivities to metals, respectively, were matched by

the in vitro reactivity. In conclusion, our data suggest that sensitization

to Co, Cr, Pd and Au results in a cellular immune response of a character

similar to the mixed Th1- and Th2-type cytokine profile shown previously to

be induced by Ni.

PMID: 17100760

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17100760

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