Expression of CD70 and the TH17 transcription factor RORgammaT in human contact dermatitis.

Contact sensitizers are a major cause of inflammatory skin disease and as topical immunomodulators also have the potential for treating cancer, viral diseases and certain autoimmune disorders. In the present study, the authors identify the upregulation of the TH17 lymphocyte subset transcription factor retinoid orphan receptor gamma T (RORgammaT) and the CD70 costimulatory pathway in human contact sensitivity (CS) using molecular techniques. Identification of this important new subset of T lymphocytes and a recognized costimulatory pathway offers potential for ameliorating CS and insight into antitumor and antiviral mechanism of haptens as topical immunomodulators.