The effect of substance P on peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with atopic dermatitis.
BACKGROUND: There is increasing evidence that neuropeptides, especially substance P (SP), may be involved in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD). OBJECTIVE: We performed this study to determine more precisely the role of SP in AD. METHODS: We separated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from AD patients and normal controls, and measured proliferation response and cytokine release after adding SP (10(-11), 10(-10) and 10(-9) M). We also compared substance P receptor expression by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. RESULTS: PBMCs from AD patients proliferated at significantly higher rates (ca. by 30%). Semi-quantitative RT-PCR showed that the level of expression of SP receptor increased in AD patients versus normal controls. IL-4 release from PBMCs was significantly higher in AD patients, while IFN-gamma release from PBMCs was significantly lower in AD patients. Different concentrations of SP did not cause any difference in IL-4 and IFN-gamma secretions. However, TNF-alpha release from PBMCs in AD patients increased significantly at 10(-10) and 10(-9) M of SP compared to SP (-) control. IL-10 release from PBMCs increased significantly in AD patients with 10(-9) M of SP compared to SP (-) control. CONCLUSION: SP might aggravate AD by increasing the production of TNF-alpha and IL-10 rather than by affecting IL-4 and IFN-gamma. This different immune response is considered to be the result of upregulated SP receptor in AD.