Cytokine detection for the diagnosis of chromium allergy

Abstract

BACKGROUNDPatch testing remains the gold standard method for the identification of the etiologic agent of allergic contact dermatitis. However, it is a subjective, time-consuming exam whose technique demands special care and which presents some contraindications, which hamper its use. In a recent study, we showed that the proliferation assay can suitably replace patch testing for the diagnosis of chromium allergy, which had been previously demonstrated only for nickel allergy. In this study, we try to refine the method by reducing the incubation period of cultures for lymphocyte proliferation assays in response to chromium. OBJECTIVEDevelop an alternative or complementary diagnostic test for chromium allergic contact dermatitis.METHODSWe compared the production of 9 cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, IL-17 and RANTES) between 18 chromium-allergic patients and 19 controls. RESULTSChromium increased the production of IFN-y, IL-5, IL-2 and IL-13 in allergic patients, but only IL-2 and especially IL-13 helped discriminate allergic patients from controls. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy found with IL-13 were about 80%. CONCLUSIONS IL-13 and IL-2 detection may be used to diagnose chromium allergy in 2-day cultures. However, in general, the 6-day cultures seem to be superior for this purpose.

Chromium allergy and dermatitis: prevalence and main findings

“…Lymphocyte proliferation testing is an in vitro assay that evaluates lymphocyte antigen recall . Recent studies have suggested that production of the cytokine IL‐13 may be used to diagnose chromium‐allergic contact dermatitis, and that interferon‐γ, IL‐2, IL‐5 and IL‐12 may serve to further establish an accurate diagnosis . It was recently suggested that cellular in vitro responses, determined with the lymphocyte transformation test, could discriminate between sensitized individuals with and without clinically manifest allergy .…”