Skin‐homing T‐cell responses associated with Demodex infestation and rosacea

• Published in: Parasite immunology Vol. 41; no. 8; pp. e12658 - n/a
• Main Authors: Gazi, Umut, Gureser, Ayse Semra, Oztekin, Aynure, Karasartova, Djursun, Kosar‐Acar, Nezahat, Derici, Mehmet Kursat, Artuz, Ferda, Mumcuoglu, Kosta Y., Taylan‐Ozkan, Aysegul
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.08.2019
• Subjects: Adult; Animals; CD4; CD4 antigen; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; CLA; Demodex; Female; Flow cytometry; Helper cells; Humans; Immune response; Immune response (cell-mediated); Infestation; Lymphocytes T; Middle Aged; Mite Infestations - immunology; Mite Infestations - parasitology; Mites - immunology; Mites - physiology; Rosacea; Rosacea - immunology; Rosacea - parasitology; Skin; Skin - immunology; T cells; Young Adult; Demodex; CLA; CD4; T cells; rosacea
• ISSN: 0141-9838; 1365-3024; 1365-3024
• DOI: 10.1111/pim.12658

Aims Our aim was to investigate the skin‐homing T‐cell immune responses triggered in patients with Demodex infestation and/or rosacea. Methods Collected whole blood samples were divided into four groups: control subjects; nonrosacea patients with Demodex infestation (Demodex group); papulopustular rosacea (PPR) patients without Demodex infestation (Rosacea group); and PPR patients with Demodex infestation (Rosacea/Demodex group). Following ex vivo activation, skin‐homing CLA+CD4+ T‐cell subset levels were monitored by flow cytometry. Results When compared with control subjects, among skin‐homing CD4+ T‐cell subsets analysed, Demodex patients had higher TH9 and Treg cell levels; Rosacea subjects displayed elevated TH1 cell levels; and Rosacea/Demodex patients exhibited increased frequencies of TH9 and TH22 cells. In contrast to Rosacea subjects, Rosacea/Demodex group members displayed higher TH2 cell levels; and when compared with Demodex groups, they had higher TH1 and TH2 but lower Treg cell levels. Demodex group members also exhibited higher Treg but lower TH1 and TH22 levels than Rosacea/Demodex group subjects. Conclusions The skin‐homing T‐cell responses associated with Demodex infestation and rosacea formation seem to influence each other. The present as well as future studies could contribute to the development of effective treatment strategies for demodicosis and rosacea.