Determination of thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC)-contents in scales of atopic dermatitis.

BACKGROUND

Thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) is a cytokine which selectively controls the migration of type 2-helper T lymphocytes into inflammatory lesions, and the serum level is strongly associated with disease severity of atopic dermatitis (AD).

OBJECTIVE

To examine the role of TARC in the pathogenesis of AD, we determined TARC-contents in the scales obtained from lesional skin of the patients with AD.

RESULTS

High amount of TARC was detected in the scales of lesional skin obtained from the patients with AD, and the amount was well correlated with the serum IgE levels but not with the blood eosinophil counts. The TARC-content in the lesional scales was not correlated with a-431C/T polymorphism of TARC promotor gene, suggesting other regulating mechanisms in TARC production in the lesion.

CONCLUSION

High amount of TARC is produced in the kesion of AD, and analysis of cytokine content in lesional scales may provide some tools to clarify the pathogenesis of AD.