Ultraviolet-Radiation-Induced Erythema and Suppression of Contact Hypersensitivity Responses in Patients with Polymorphic Light Eruption

79Citations
Citations of this article
24Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

Abstract

Ultraviolet-radiation suppresses cell-mediated immunity in healthy humans. It has been postulated that, in the short term, this immunosuppression prevents autoimmune responses to ultraviolet-radiation damaged skin. Patients with polymorphic light eruption (PLE) demonstrate abnormal responses to ultraviolet-radiation suggestive of an immune response to an ultraviolet-radiation-induced antigen. We investigated whether PLE patients (n = 22) were resistant to ultravlolet-radiation-induced immunosuppression compared to skin-type, aged-matched controls (n = 23). Groups of patients and controls (six subjects per group) received a single dose of solar-simulated ultraviolet-radiation of either 0, 0.6, 1 or 2 minimal erythema doses (MED). Erythema was quantified using a reflectance meter and all volunteers were sensitised on the irradiated site with dinitrochlorobenzene. Contact hypersensitivity responses (CHS) to dinitrochlorobenzene were quantified after challenge using ultrasound. Ultravlolet-radiation-induced erythema was comparable in patients and controls. CHS was comparable in unirradiated patients and controls. UVR-induced a dose-dependent suppression of CHS in all volunteers but patients were more resistant to immunosuppression after 1MED. Exposure to 1MED suppressed CHS by 78% in controls but induced less suppression in patients (44%, p < 0.01). Our data suggest that PLE patients have a flaw in their immunoregulatory response to ultraviolet-radiation it is only apparent over a narrow dose range around 1 MED.

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Van De Pas, C. B., Kelly, D. A., Seed, P. T., Young, A. R., Hawk, J. L. M., & Walker, S. L. (2004). Ultraviolet-Radiation-Induced Erythema and Suppression of Contact Hypersensitivity Responses in Patients with Polymorphic Light Eruption. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 122(2), 295–299. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.0022-202X.2004.22201.x

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free