 |
|
Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B Applied on Intact Normal and Intact Atopic Skin Induces Dermatitis
Poul Strange, MD;
Lone Skov, MD;
Steen Lisby, MD;
Preben Lovgreen Nielsen, MD;
Ole Baadsgaard, MD
Arch Dermatol. 1996;132(1):27-33.
Abstract
| |
Background and Design
Colonization of inflammatory skin diseases with Staphylococcus aureus is a frequent phenomenon and may cause exacerbation of the skin disease. Staphylococcus aureus strains present on atopic dermatitis are capable of releasing staphylococcal enterotoxins, a group of superantigens that are very potent T-cell activators. To determine whether the superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin B can induce inflammation when applied on the skin, staphylococcal enterotoxin B was applied with and without occlusion on the volar aspect of the skin on the forearm of 10 subjects without skin disease and six subjects with atopic dermatitis of minimal activity and no eczema on the volar aspect of the skin on their forearm. The main outcome measures were clinical rating; determination of the increase of the thickness of the skinfold; and determination of skin blood flow.
Results
Clinically, staphylococcal enterotoxin B induced skin changes of erythema and induration in 10 of 10 healthy volunteer subjects and six of six subjects suffering from atopic dermatitis, while the vehicle induced clinically evident skin changes in only one of 10 healthy subjects and none of six subjects with atopic dermatitis. On day 3 after the application of an occluded patch containing 10 µg/cm2 of staphylococcal enterotoxin B in the healthy subjects, the thickness of the skinfold increased 0.47±0.49 mm (mean±SD) (n=9; P<.02) relative to the increase in the thickness of the skinfold following application of the vehicle. The Doppler laser-measured skin blood flow index had increased from 1.0±0.4 to 5.3±3.7 (mean±SD) (n=10, P<.002). On day 3 after the application of occluded patchs containing 10 µg/cm2 of staphylococcal enterotoxin B in the subjects suffering from atopic dermatitis, the increase in the thickness of the skinfold increased 0.20±0.24 mm (n=6; P, not significant) relative to the increased thickness in the skinfold following application of the vehicle. The Doppler laser-measured skin blood flow index had increased from 1.1±0.4 to 3.7±2.2 (n=6, P, not significant). Three of six subjects suffering from atopic dermatitis experienced a flare of their disease in the elbow flexure ipsilaterally to where the staphylococcal enterotoxin B patch was applied.
Conclusions
The superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin B applied on intact skin from both normal subjects and patients with atopic dermatitis induces an inflammatory reaction. This finding suggests that superantigens released from S aureus present on the skin in inflammatory skin diseases may exacerbate and sustain the inflammation.
(Arch Dermatol. 1996;132:27-33)
Author Affiliations
From the Department of Dermatology (Drs Strange, Skov, Lisby, and Baadsgaard), Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, and the Department of Pathology (Dr Nielsen), Hvidovre Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark. Dr Strange is affiliated with ZymoGenetics Inc, Seattle, Wash.
 CiteULike  Connotea  Del.icio.us  Digg  Reddit  Technorati  Twitter
What's this?
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES
|
Topical Superantigen Exposure Induces Epidermal Accumulation of CD8+ T Cells, a Mixed Th1/Th2-Type Dermatitis and Vigorous Production of IgE Antibodies in the Murine Model of Atopic Dermatitis
Savinko et al.
J. Immunol. 2005;175:8320-8326.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Differential Susceptibility to Staphylococcal Superantigen (SsAg)-Induced Apoptosis of CD4+ T Cells from Atopic Dermatitis Patients and Healthy Subjects: The Inhibitory Effect of IL-4 on SsAg-Induced Apoptosis
Lin et al.
J. Immunol. 2003;171:1102-1108.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Age-Related Prevalence and Antibiotic Resistance of Pathogenic Staphylococci and Streptococci in Children With Infected Atopic Dermatitis at a Single-Specialty Center
Arkwright et al.
Arch Dermatol 2002;138:939-941.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Skin Homing (Cutaneous Lymphocyte-Associated Antigen-Positive) CD8+ T Cells Respond to Superantigen and Contribute to Eosinophilia and IgE Production in Atopic Dermatitis
Akdis et al.
J. Immunol. 1999;163:466-475.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Production of antibodies to staphylococcal superantigens in atopic dermatitis • Commentary
Campbell et al.
Arch. Dis. Child. 1998;79:400-404.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Mutational Analysis of Superantigen Activity Responsible for the Induction of Skin Erythema by Streptococcal Pyrogenic Exotoxin C
Yamaoka et al.
Infect. Immun. 1998;66:5020-5026.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Assembling the Puzzle Pieces in Atopic Inflammation
Hanifin
Arch Dermatol 1996;132:1230-1232.
ABSTRACT
|
