Leukocyte and lymphocyte cyclic AMP responses in atopic eczema.

Lymphocytes from subjects with mild and severe atopic eczema were compared with normal control subjects in regard to their cAMP (3';5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate) responses to a variety of stimulatory agents. Individuals in the severe eczema group were shown to have a significant diminution in their unstimulated lymphocyte cAMP levels and absolute cAMP responses to 0.5 mM theophylline, 0.5 mM theophyline + 1 micronM epinephrine, 10 mM isoproternol, 1 mM isoproterenol, 10 mM salbutamol, and 3 micron M PGE1. Individuals with mild eczema had a reduced response to 0.5 mM theophylline. The severe eczema groups also differed in a number of these responses from a group of 5 subjects with severe psoriasis. Mixed leukocyte cAMP responses to 10 mM isoproterenol also were examined and found to be diminished in individuals with eczema.