Release in vivo of IL-1 like activity by human skin.

We have demonstrated the release in vivo by normal human skin of a factor which possesses IL-1-like activity in the mouse thymocyte amplification assay. Quantitatively similar amounts of this factor were released from involved and uninvolved skin of patients with cutaneous T cell lymphoma. The IL-1-like factor was associated with inhibitory activity in the mouse thymocyte amplification assay. High performance liquid chromatographic analysis showed that this inhibitory activity co-chromatographed with prostaglandin E2. These results provide further evidence for the role of the skin as an immunologically active organ and suggest that PGE2 may have an immunomodulatory role in human skin.