Abnormal suppressor cell function in atopic dermatitis.

A status of suppressor cells in patients with atopic dermatitis was studied. As a group, they showed absent concanavalin A-inducible suppressor cell function as measured by proliferative responses to pokeweed mitogen and decreased function as measured by responses to phytohemagglutinin or concanavalin A. Similarly, preincubation in medium enhanced proliferative responses in normal donors but not in atopic dermatitis patients, suggesting an absence of a short-lived suppressor cell population in the latter group. Suppressor cell function correlated negatively with log10 of serum IgE concentrations. Theophylline-sensitive suppressor cell numbers were significantly decreased in atopic dermatitis patients (p less than 0.01). In vitro preincubation of normal lymphocytes with aminophylline or isoproterenol (10 microgram/ml) enhanced subsequent proliferative responses to pokeweed mitogen. In contrast, actual depression was seen with cells from atopic dermatitis patients, suggesting abnormal immunomodulatory effects of these drugs in the disease.