Variability in responsiveness to irritants: thoughts on possible underlying mechanisms

• Published in: Contact dermatitis Vol. 47; no. 5; pp. 267 - 271
• Main Author: Willis, C. M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Munksgaard International Publishers 01.11.2002; Blackwell
• Subjects: atopy; Biological and medical sciences; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact - diagnosis; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact - genetics; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact - immunology; Dermatology; gene polymorphism; General aspects. Methods; Humans; interleukin-1; irritant contact dermatitis; Irritants; Medical sciences; Patch Tests - standards; Skin involvement in other diseases. Miscellaneous. General aspects; susceptibility; Toxicology; tumor necrosis factor; Human; Allergy; Immunopathology; Skin disease; Toxicity; Chemical compound; Cytokine; Atopy; Contact dermatitis; Gene; Tumor necrosis factor; Interindividual comparison; Interleukin 1; Genetics; Patch; Irritation; Polymorphism
• ISSN: 0105-1873; 1600-0536
• DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0536.2002.470503.x

Patch testing with chemical irritants almost always produces a striking variability in the intensity of reaction between individuals, even amongst normal, healthy subjects. Whilst there have been many attempts to define factors which predispose to heightened or, conversely, to diminished reactivity, the underlying cellular mechanisms responsible for the variability remain poorly understood. In this review, a number of possible explanations are proposed, with a particular emphasis on those which relate to the influence of pre‐existing disease or to the genetic regulation of certain immunological and inflammatory processes.