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Biomedical subjects

K Thestrup-Pedersen

Publications and source records attributed to K Thestrup-Pedersen.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Epidermis and lymphocyte interactions during a tuberculin skin reaction. I. Increased ETAF/IL-1 like activity, expression of tissue antigens and mixed skin lymphocyte reactivity.

Forty-one persons were tested for tuberculin skin reactivity. Epidermal cells (ECs) were isolated from the tuberculin reaction and from a contra lateral, non injected skin area. We found a significant increase of epidermal thymocyte activating factor (ETAF) in epidermis overlying a positive tuberculin reaction together with an increase of OKT6 and class II (HLA-DR) positive cells. Allogeneic lymphocytes proliferated significantly more when mixed with ECs from a positive tuberculin skin test. Injection of tuberculin per se or a negative reaction did not induce similar changes. The described model seems useful for functional studies of ECs and lymphocytes in patients with contact dermatitis.

Adult↗

Epidermal lymphocyte chemotactic factor specifically attracts OKT4-positive lymphocytes.

Epidermal lymphocyte chemotactic factor (ELCF) from skin overlying a positive tuberculin reaction was compared with the chemoattractants leukotriene B4 (LTB4), N-formyl-methionyl-leukyl-phenylalanine (FMLP), and complement split product C5a (C5a). The chemotactic assay used is a modified Boyden chamber technique. The lymphocytes were subsets of T lymphocytes from healthy young individuals first separated by flotation of E rosettes on Isopaque Ficoll followed by incubation of T cells with anti-CD4 and anti-CD8 monoclonal antibodies and further separation using fluorescence-activated cell sorting. ELCF specifically attracted OKT4+ lymphocytes, while LTB4, FMLP, and C5a induced significant migration in both OKT4+ and OKT8+ lymphocytes without any clear difference between the various chemoattractants or cell populations. We found no blocking of the chemotactic capacity of ELCF when we added antibodies towards IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta to the chemotactic assay. Further recombinant IL-1 alpha and Il-1 beta did not induce any chemotactic response. Our observation may be of significance in explaining the predominance of OKT4+ cells in allergic contact dermatitis and certain other skin diseases.

CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes↗

C-type particles are inducible in Se-Ax, a continuous T-cell line from a patient with Sézary's syndrome.

Se-Ax is a continuous mature T-cell line that we have established from a patient with Sézary's syndrome. An important finding was that the Se-Ax cell line required human serum for initial growth. Here we show that transfer of the permanent cell line to a medium deficient of human serum induces production of C-type retroviral-like particles with a unique morphology. Ultrastructurally, these particles are 120 nm in diameter with hexagonal shape, and show a small, centrally located round core of 30 nm. They are observed only extra-cellularly; typical budding, however, is not found. Both by serological testing and molecular analysis we substantiate the morphological conclusion that these particles do not represent common human or animal retroviruses. The inducibility of the particles may be a hint as to a possible endogenous origin.

Antigens, Differentiation↗

The red man syndrome. Exfoliative dermatitis of unknown etiology: a description and follow-up of 38 patients.

Thirty-eight patients with erythroderma of unknown etiology were diagnosed over a 15-year period, and represented 19% of all patients admitted to our department for erythroderma. The male:female ratio was 6.6:1, and the median disease duration was 2 years (range 1 to 23 years). Keratoderma of palms and/or soles was seen in 79%. Laboratory findings were normal, except for an increased IgE level in 69% of the patients studied. Lymph node histology showed dermatopathic lymphadenopathy. Bone marrow investigation results were normal in 48%, or showed eosinophilia (32%) or hyperplasia (20%). Initial skin biopsies showed nonspecific histology in most patients, but later biopsies revealed pleomorphic infiltration. During the observation period four patients progressed to mycosis fungoides and another nine patients were suspected of having mycosis. None developed Sézary's syndrome. Only one third of the patients went into complete remission; half of them died during the observation period. Patients with erythroderma of unknown etiology are predominantly men and seem to belong to a certain subgroup--herein called the red man syndrome.

Adult↗

Epidermis and lymphocyte interactions during an allergic patch test reaction. Increased activity of ETAF/IL-1, epidermal derived lymphocyte chemotactic factor and mixed skin lymphocyte reactivity in persons with type IV allergy.

Recently, we have found an increased activity of epidermal-derived thymocyte-activating factor (ETAF/IL-1) and epidermal lymphocyte chemotactic factor (ELCF) in epidermis overlying a positive tuberculin skin reaction. In the present study, we investigated 20 patients with confirmed or suspected allergic contact dermatitis by using the suction blister technique before and during patch testing. The ETAF/IL-1 was found in epidermis before patch testing. Its presence increased 2.8-fold in epidermis overlying a positive patch test compared with pretesting values. This increase was statistically significant. Interestingly, nontested skin also showed a significant increase of ETAF/IL-1, which was 1.9-fold higher than pretest values. The ETAF/IL-1 activity in patch test areas was significantly correlated with the clinical response. ELCF is not present in epidermis from noneczematous persons. We observed a significant content of ELCF in three of seven patients with eczema prior to patch testing. After patch testing, all patients showed ELCF in epidermis. Nontested skin showed a 1.5-fold higher content of ELCF compared with pretest values, and in the test area ELCF was 1.8-fold higher. The increases were statistically significant. We performed mixed skin lymphocyte reactions in seven patients using epidermal cells from the patch test area. All patients with a positive patch test had an increased mixed skin lymphocyte reactivity compared with epidermis coming from a negative reaction.

Adult↗

Treatment of mycosis fungoides with recombinant interferon-alpha 2a2 alone and in combination with etretinate.

Eleven patients with mycosis fungoides (MF) were treated with recombinant alpha-interferon (rIFN-alpha 2a2) in combination with etretinate (seven patients) or alone. One patient, who also received etretinate, went into complete remission and remained without signs of MF after 18 months. Six patients experienced partial remission; one of these was treated with rIFN-alpha 2a alone and was clinically in complete remission, but had still a pleomorphic skin infiltrate. Two patients were non-evaluable, and two stopped therapy due to progressive disease. Five patients discontinued therapy due to side-effects although three had partial remission of their disease. Only four patients received 12 months therapy. The study shows that rIFN-alpha 2a in combination with etretinate or alone can induce remission of MF.

Aged↗

Skin temperature and skin symptoms among workers in the fish processing industry.

196 workers employed in the fish processing industry participated in a survey of skin disorders. 156 (80%) had experienced skin problems during their work with fish on some occasions. The symptoms were itching, redness and stinging. Although the fingers are in direct contact with fish meat and juice, skin symptoms only seldom occur here, but instead almost exclusively on the forearms (70%) and the backs of the hands (26%). The skin temperature of the fingers and palms of the hands ranged from 17 degrees C to 20 degrees C, while the temperature on the backs of the hands and forearms ranged from 25 degrees C to 30 degrees C. Skin temperatures less than 20 degrees C abolish itch and reduce vasodilation by half. We suggest that the low temperature on the fingers affords protection against the development of some irritant skin reactions and that differences in skin temperature may be an important reason for the location of skin symptoms.

Adolescent↗

Development of cutaneous pseudolymphoma following ciclosporin therapy of actinic reticuloid.

The patient is a 57-year-old man with actinic reticuloid, who despite systemic prednisone, azathioprine, topical steroid, and sun-protective cream had to stay indoors in the summer of 1986. In February 1987 he was started on ciclosporin (CS), 5.5 mg per kg body weight, and skin symptoms did not develop as usual in spring and summer 1987. Following 4 months of successful therapy, he developed an indolent tumor on his right chin and parapsoriasis en plaque on the lower arms and legs. Histological examinations of the tumor showed an intense lymphoid infiltrate of a pseudolymphomatous type. The tumor regressed partly following discontinuation of CS, but additional radiation therapy had to be administered. His clinical symptoms of actinic reticuloid reappeared. Eight months after CS treatment he developed a malignant T cell lymphoma with metastasis in the regional lymph nodes on the neck. CS should not be used in diseases with potential premalignant features even though its therapeutic efficacy in actinic reticuloid was impressive.

Cyclosporins↗

Natural and Chang liver cell cytotoxic studies of methotrexate-treated psoriatic patients with liver cirrhosis.

Forty patients with psoriasis were investigated for unspecific and specific lymphocyte cytotoxicity in order to evaluate the significance for liver cell damage in methotrexate-treated (MTX) patients. We found no difference between psoriasis patients with regard to cytotoxicity. We also observed a normal proliferation of lymphocytes after stimulation with tuberculin and phytohemagglutinin.

Adolescent↗

Morbus Bowen. A description of the disease in 617 patients.

Between 1943 and 1983 a total of 617 patients were diagnosed to have morbus Bowen (m.B.). Eighty percent of the patients were over 60 years old at the time of diagnosis. Three-fourth had their disease on sun-exposed areas (head, neck and hands). Almost 1/4 had concomitant basal cell epithelioma (c.b.) and 1/10 squamous cell carcinoma (c.s.). Approximately 1/5 had multiple m.B. tumours. Effective therapy was curettage followed by cauterization, excision, or X-ray.

Adult↗

Preparation of human epidermal tissue for functional immune studies.

A trypsinization technique was optimized for preparation of human epidermal single-cell suspensions from suction blisters. The conditions which provided the highest epidermal cell yield and viability was Sigma trypsin 0.25% (Type II, crude; cat. no. T8128). The incubation time should be 45 min at 37 degrees C with continuous shaking of the epidermal tissue. The use of suction blisters was evaluated for in vivo determination of epidermal thymocyte activating factor (ETAF/Il-1). Trypsinization of epidermis diminished ETAF/Il-1 activity. Dialysis of epidermal homogenates improves determination of ETAF/Il-1-like activity due to removal of low-weight inhibitors. Determination of ETAF/Il-1-like activity in homogenates of suction blisters constitutes a reliable model with acceptable reproducibility.

Cell Separation↗

Bowen's disease and internal malignant diseases. A study of 581 patients.

In a retrospective study of 581 patients with a diagnosis of Bowen's disease (BD) treated over a 40-year period, we traced patient records to identify later diagnoses of nonskin cancer. Fifty patients had nonskin cancer, as against an expected number of 40, but this difference was not significant. The lack of association was equally true for BD on sun-exposed and non-sun-exposed skin. Our findings support the view that BD is not a skin marker for internal malignant disease.

Adult↗

A continuous T-cell line from a patient with Sézary syndrome.

A continuous cell line, Se-Ax, from a patient with Sézary syndrome has been established. The Se-Ax cell line is IL-2 dependent, requires human serum for permanent growth, and has the following phenotype: CD1-, CD2+, CD3+, CD4-, CD5-, CD8-, CD20-, CD25+; it expresses the T9, T10, and HLA-DR antigens. This cell line reveals multiple chromosome aberrations as seen in the most abundant abnormal clone in peripheral blood. Therefore, it is not unlikely that it derives from tumor cells. A putative cytotoxic cell line derived from the same patient has only weak killer-cell activity against the autologous permanent cell line: this CD8+ cytotoxic cell line has a 14q+ chromosomal marker. The fact that the patient demonstrated no natural killer-cell or activated killer-cell activity against the Se-Ax cell line may in part explain the successful establishment of the continuous cell line from bulk culture.

Aged↗