Preferential Usage of TCR-V beta 17 by Peripheral and Cutaneous T Cells in Nickel-Induced Contact Dermatitis

• Published in: The Journal of immunology (1950) 2001-11, Vol.167 (10), p.6038-6044
• Main Authors: Buedinger, L, Neuser, N, Totzke, U, Merk, H F, Hertl, M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0022-1767
• DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.167.10.6038

Nickel (Ni) is one of the most common contact sensitizers in man, and Ni-induced contact dermatitis is considered as a model of hapten-induced delayed type hypersensitivity. Previous studies indicated that Ni-reactive T cells derived from Ni-allergic individuals preferentially express distinct TCR-V beta chains. However, data on the TCR-V beta repertoire of Ni-responsive T cells are not consistent. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify the TCR-V beta receptors of Ni-responsive peripheral and cutaneous T cells in a cohort of 17 donors with Ni-induced contact dermatitis in comparison with those of 6 healthy controls. Peripheral NiSO sub(4)-responsive T lymphocytes showed a significant overexpression of TCR-V beta 17 and the frequency of TCR-V beta 17 super(+) T cells correlated significantly with the in vitro reactivity of PBMC to NiSO sub(4). In addition, the cutaneous infiltrate of Ni-induced patch test reactions consisted primarily of V beta 17 super(+) T cells. The majority of patch test-derived NiSO sub(4)-responsive T cells of three allergic donors were TCR-V beta 17 super(+), whereas patch test-derived NiSO sub(4) unresponsive T cells of four additional donors did not express TCR-V beta 17. Skin-derived Ni-responsive T cell lines from three donors uniformly secreted the Th2 cytokine, IL-5, but no IFN- gamma or IL-10. These in vitro and in vivo findings strongly suggest that T cells with a restricted TCR-V beta repertoire, i.e. V beta 17, predominate in NiSO sub(4)-induced contact dermatitis and may be crucial in the effector phase of Ni hypersensitivity.