Modulation of natural killer cell activity in patients with atopic dermatitis.

The peripheral blood lymphocytes of 36 adult patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis had reduced natural killer (NK) cell activity when measured against 51Cr-labeled K 562 cells. The decrease in NK cells activity was not related to the serum IgE level, but was related to the severity of the skin disease. Addition of autologous monocytes of the assay reduced the NK cell activity and concealed the enhancing effect of gamma-interferon addition in a 4-h assay. The NK cell activity of lymphocytes could be reduced in vitro by addition of prostaglandin E1, or increased by addition of gamma-interferon similar to lymphocytes from persons without atopic disease. Our present findings raise the possibility that the reduced NK cell activity may be secondary to the skin disease, and due to in vivo interaction between NK cells and monocytes, or to low numbers of NK cells in peripheral blood.