Turka L A, Goodman R E, Rutkowski J L, Sima A A, Merry A, Mitra R S, Wrone-Smith T, Toews G, Strieter R M, Nickoloff B J
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor 48109-0602, USA.
Mol Med. 1995 Sep;1(6):690-9.
The nervous system has been implicated in several inflammatory skin disorders based on evidence such as the role of stress in inducing lesions, symmetry of lesions, and sparing of denervated skin. Interleukin 12 (IL-12) is a cytokine recently shown to promote cellular immune responses characterized by delayed-type hypersensitivity and production of the TH1-lymphokine, interferon-gamma.
Using immunohistochemistry, IL-12 immunoreactivity was identified in cryostat sections of normal and diseased human skin samples, and in the peripheral and central nervous system of rodents and human tissue samples. IL-12 p35 and p40 mRNAs were detected using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction in tissue samples and cultured cells. IL-12 protein levels were also examined by ELISA and quantitative bioassay utilizing an IL-12-dependent cell line.
By immunostaining IL-12 was detected in free nerve ending in the epidermis of normal and diseased skin samples, and also in the dermal nerve fibers. Strong reactivity was detected in axonal processes and in various glial cell types. In addition, IL-12 protein and mRNA were contained within cutaneous peripheral nerves and spinal cord tissues, and functional levels of IL-12 were produced by cultured Schwann cells.
It is likely that IL-12 is important in initiating or propagating selected inflammatory skin lesions and in determining the pattern of disease that will develop. The presence of IL-12 in neural tissue suggests a mechanism whereby the nervous system can modify or amplify cutaneous and perhaps other immune responses.
基于诸如应激在诱发皮损中的作用、皮损的对称性以及失神经皮肤未受累等证据，神经系统已被认为与多种炎症性皮肤病有关。白细胞介素12（IL - 12）是一种细胞因子，最近显示其可促进以迟发型超敏反应和TH1淋巴细胞因子干扰素 - γ产生为特征的细胞免疫反应。
采用免疫组织化学方法，在正常和患病的人类皮肤样本的冰冻切片以及啮齿动物和人类组织样本的外周和中枢神经系统中鉴定IL - 12免疫反应性。使用逆转录 - 聚合酶链反应在组织样本和培养细胞中检测IL - 12 p35和p40 mRNA。还通过酶联免疫吸附测定（ELISA）和利用IL - 12依赖细胞系的定量生物测定法检测IL - 12蛋白水平。
通过免疫染色，在正常和患病皮肤样本的表皮游离神经末梢以及真皮神经纤维中检测到IL - 12。在轴突过程和各种神经胶质细胞类型中检测到强反应性。此外，皮肤外周神经和脊髓组织中含有IL - 12蛋白和mRNA，培养的雪旺细胞可产生功能性水平的IL - 12。
IL - 12可能在启动或传播特定的炎症性皮肤病变以及确定即将发生的疾病模式方面起重要作用。神经组织中IL - 12的存在提示了一种机制，通过该机制神经系统可以调节或放大皮肤以及可能的其他免疫反应。
