CD69 upregulation on T cells as an in vitro marker for delayed-type drug hypersensitivity.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND: T cells play a key role in delayed-type drug hypersensitivity reactions. Their reactivity can be assessed by their proliferation in response to the drug in the lymphocyte transformation test (LTT). However, the LTT imposes limitations in terms of practicability, and an alternative method that is easier to implement than the LTT would be desirable. METHODS: Four months to 12 years after acute drug hypersensitivity reactions, CD69 upregulation on T cells of 15 patients and five healthy controls was analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: All 15 LTT-positive patients showed a significant increase of CD69 expression on T cells after 48 h of drug-stimulation exclusively with the drugs incriminated in drug-hypersensitivities. A stimulation index of 2 as cut-off value allowed discrimination between nonreactive and reactive T cells in LTT and CD69 upregulation. T cells (0.5-3%) showed CD69 up-regulation. The reactive cell population consisted of a minority of truly drug reactive T cells secreting cytokines and a higher number of bystander T cells activated by IL-2 and possibly other cytokines. CONCLUSIONS: CD69 upregulation was observed after 2 days in all patients with a positive LTT after 6 days, thus appearing to be a promising tool to identify drug-reactive T cells in the peripheral blood of patients with drug-hypersensitivity reactions.

Author information

Author/s: Beeler, A (A); Zaccaria, L (L); Kawabata, T (T); Gerber, B O (BO); Pichler, W J (WJ);

Affiliation: Division of Allergology, Clinic of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology/Allergology, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Evaluation Studies; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Allergy (Allergy), published in Denmark. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Feb; vol 63 (issue 2) : pp 181-8

Dates: Created 2008/01/11; Completed 2008/01/29;

PMID: 18005225, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology
Antigens, CD - diagnostic use; metabolism
Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte - diagnostic use; metabolism
Biological Markers - metabolism
Drug Hypersensitivity - diagnosis; etiology; immunology
Female

Female
Flow Cytometry
Humans
Hypersensitivity, Delayed - diagnosis; etiology; immunology
Lymphocyte Activation - immunology
Male
Middle Aged
T-Lymphocytes - immunology; metabolism
Up-Regulation

Associated Chemicals: Anti-Bacterial Agents (0) ; Antigens, CD (0) ; Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte (0) ; Biological Markers (0) ; CD69 antigen (0)

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