Ultraviolet-A1 phototherapy modulates Th1/Th2 and Tc1/Tc2 balance in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE: Ultraviolet-A1 (UVA1) phototherapy is effective for a variety of dermatological diseases. We examined the effectiveness and reliability of low-dose UVA1 phototherapy (60 kJ/m2/treatment) in patients suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We studied the changes in immunological parameters. METHODS: The patients received a 9-week course of phototherapy according to the following regimen: five times a week during the first 3 weeks, three times a week during the second 3 weeks and twice during the last 3 weeks. Among other things, we analysed the proportions of T helper 1 (Th1), Th2, T cytotoxic (Tc1) and Tc2 cell populations in the peripheral blood of patients by flow cytometric detection of intracytoplasmic interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin 4 (IL-4). RESULTS: Our study showed the improvement of clinical symptoms determined by the subjective clinical disease activity scoring and the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI). By the end of UVA1 phototherapy, the mean value of SLEDAI had decreased from 7.2+/-5.6 to 0.9+/-1.8, which was significant (P = 0.005). Immunological investigations detected a decrease in the frequency of IFN-gamma-producing Th1 and Tc1 cells and a decrease in the Th1/Th2 and Tc1/Tc2 ratios after UVA1 therapy. CONCLUSION: According to the literature, IFN-gamma has a pathogenic role in the development of SLE. We observed a decreased proportion of IFN-gamma-secreting cells, which we think is presumably one of the beneficial effects of UVA1 therapy. On the basis of our study, UVA1 phototherapy does seem to be an effective adjuvant in the treatment of SLE patients.

Effect of pentoxifylline on sunburn cell formation in a novel supravital human skin model.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The aim of this study was to determine whether pentoxifylline (Pf) has an effect on sunburn cell (SBC) formation in humans. METHODS: A novel supravital human skin model was used. Normal skin samples were placed on gauze in completed RPMI 1640 Medium and remained vital for 48 h. Three concentrations of Pf (7.5, 15.0 and 30.0 microg/ml) were tested. After 2 h, each skin sample was irradiated with 120 mJ/cm2 of UVB. After 24-h incubation, the samples were formalin fixed, paraffin embedded and sections were stained with haematoxylin-eosin. RESULTS: The mean count of SBC (10.43 +/- 1.35 (SEM)) was significantly higher in the control group (without Pf) compared with its mean count in 7.5 microg/ml Pf (5.18 +/- 0.62, P < 0.001), or 15.0 microg/ml Pf (5.79 +/- 1.70, P < 0.001), or 30.0 microg/ml Pf (4.37 +/- 1.47, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Pentoxifylline reduced SBC formation in our supravital human skin model. It presumably acts as an antioxidant agent.

Compositionally different desmosomes in the various compartments of the human hair follicle.

Hair follicles are complex organs of the skin, in morphological and ontogenic continuity with the epidermis. We have examined the location of desmosomal cadherins and desmosomal plaque proteins in the hair follicle of adult and fetal human scalp skin by immunohistochemistry and have established a localization "map" of the hair follicle. Using antibodies against the plaque proteins desmoplakin I and II, plakoglobin, and plakophilin 1, we have found that these occur in most, if not all hair follicle desmosomes, whereas plakophilin 2 was absent, except in the basal cells of the outer root sheath, where a weak reactivity was found. By contrast, the desmosomal cadherins were mostly differentially synthesized, displaying a complicated map. While desmocollin Dsc3 was detected in all cell types examined, Dsc1 was detected only in the outer root sheath companion cell layer and the inner root sheath, and Dsc2 showed practically a mutually exclusive presence. Desmoglein Dsg2 was observed in basal cells of the outer root sheath as well as in the central cell layers of the subinfundibular outer rood sheath, matrix cells and trichocytes, in partial overlap with the otherwise different immunopositive reactions of Dsg1 and Dsg3. We have also determined when these proteins are synthesized during fetal hair follicle development. The differential molecular composition of desmosomes is discussed in relation to possible functional differences between the individual cell types.