T lymphocyte dynamics in methylisothiazolinone-allergic patients

BACKGROUND: Methylisothiazolinone (MI), a preservative that is commonly used in personal care products, is now recognized as an important contact allergen in both cosmetic and occupational settings.

OBJECTIVES: To analyse T lymphocyte responses to MI, in order to provide important information regarding the relationship between the nature of such responses and skin sensitization potency.

METHODS: Proliferative responses to free MI and to an MI-human serum albumin (HSA) conjugate were measured according to [(3) H]thymidine incorporation (n = 56 donors; patch test scores of + in 20, ++ in 29, and +++ in 7). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were cultured in the presence of MI (0.001-1 µg/ml) or MI-HSA (0.001-100 µg/ml). Proliferating CD4(+) and CD8(+) T lymphocytes were identified by flow cytometry with the intracellular marker Ki-67.

RESULTS: For free MI, modest positive responses were recorded for 7 of 31 donors. In contrast, MI-HSA stimulated more marked responses in 17 of 31 donors. Characterization of positive proliferative responses showed variable patterns of proliferating CD4(+) and CD8(+) T lymphocytes from donors with the same patch test scores and similar maximal values.

CONCLUSIONS: MI-HSA is able to induce secondary responses in lymphocytes drawn from sensitized subjects, and provides a more effective source of antigen than free MI. Furthermore, individual donors show differential activity profiles with respect to T lymphocyte subsets.