Imbalance of CD4+CD29+ and CD4+CD45RA+ T-helper cell subsets in peripheral blood of patients with severe atopic dermatitis.

To determine the proportion of T-helper cell subsets in the peripheral blood we studied 16 patients with mild, moderate and severe atopic dermatitis. Lymphocytes were isolated from heparinized peripheral blood and analysed by two-colour flow cytometry. Patients with severe atopic dermatitis had a decreased CD4+CD29+: CD4+CD45RA+ ratio (p < 0.01). We found a decreased absolute number of CD4+CD29+ cells (p < 0.05) and an increased absolute number of CD4+CD45RA+ cells (p < 0.05) in the peripheral blood. No significant changes in the CD4+CD29+: CD4+CD45RA+ ratio were found in the peripheral blood of patients with clinically mild or moderate atopic dermatitis.