Cell-mediated immunity in vitro in atopic dermatitis

The function of T cells in atopic dermatitis was studied by leukocyte migration agarose and lymphocyte transformation tests. We found that phytohemagglutinin (PHA)- and PPD-induced release of leukocyte migration inhibition factor (LIF) from lymphocytes is significantly decreased (P<.001) in patients with atopic dermatitis as compared with healthy controls. Blastogenic response of lymphocytes induced by PPD was also decreased in atopic patients as compared with controls (P<.01). No differences were found in spontaneous blastogenesis or in blastogenic response of lymphocytes in vitro to PHA, concanavalin A (ConA), or streptokinase-streptodornase (SK-SD) between patients with atopic dermatitis and controls. (Arch Dermatol115:161-164, 1979)