OX40 ligand and OX40 are increased in atopic dermatitis lesions but do not correlate with clinical severity

• Published in: Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology 2013-02, Vol.27 (2), p.e197-e205
• Main Authors: Ilves, T., Harvima, I.T.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Cell Proliferation; Dermatitis, Atopic - metabolism; Dermatitis, Atopic - pathology; Female; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Middle Aged; Monocytes - cytology; OX40 Ligand - metabolism; Receptors, OX40 - metabolism; Severity of Illness Index; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0926-9959; 1468-3083
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-3083.2012.04587.x

Background  The interaction between the OX40 ligand (OX40L) and OX40 has been suggested to have pathogenetic significance in atopic dermatitis (AD). Objective  The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression and relevance of OX40L and OX40 in AD skin. Methods  OX40L and OX40 were stained immunohistochemically on the cryosections of the lesional and non‐lesional skin of 17 subjects with moderate‐to‐severe AD and of 10 patients with psoriasis vulgaris. Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) stimulated keratinocytes and cell membrane preparations from PMA‐stimulated keratinocytes or LAD‐2 mast cells were incubated with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in the presence or absence of blocking monoclonal antibodies to OX40L, CD30L or ICAM‐1. Results  We show for the first time that the staining intensity of OX40L and the number of OX40+ cells are significantly greater in the lesional dermis than in the healthy‐looking dermis in AD (P