Aleksandra Lesiak

The Effect of Chronic Ultraviolet Radiation on the Human Immune System

A single or a limited number of UVR exposures is recognized to suppress cell‐mediated immunity in human subjects. The complex pathway leading from the absorption of photons by chromophores in the skin to the generation of T regulatory cells has been, at least partially, elucidated. However, the effect of repeated UV exposures on immune responses and associated mediators is not well studied, particularly to assess whether they lead, first, to the development of photoprotection so that these immune changes are reduced or no longer occur, and, secondly, to the development of photoprotection against the normal downregulation of immunity induced by a high UV dose. For almost all the parameters evaluated in this review—epidermal DNA damage/erythema, urocanic acid, Langerhans and dendritic cells, natural killer cells, macrophages, mast cells, contact and delayed hypersensitivity responses—none, aside from epidermal DNA damage/erythema and macrophage phagocytic activity, show convincing evidence of photoadaptation or, where appropriate, photoprotection. It is concluded that repeatedly irradiating individuals with UVR is likely to continue to result in downregulation of immunity.

Combined occurrence of filaggrin mutations and IL‐10 or IL‐13 polymorphisms predisposes to atopic dermatitis

Background:  Although filaggrin mutations are presently believed to play a key role in the development of atopic dermatitis (AD), obviously also immunological factors involved in acquired immune response are important for the development of allergic inflammation.

The influence of antimalarial treatment on IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α mRNA expression on UVB-irradiated skin in systemic lupus erythematosus

Background  There are very few data addressing the mechanisms of antimalarial treatment benefit locally within the skin of patients with lupus erythematosus, at the level of cytokine messenger RNA (mRNA) expression.

Repeated low-dose ultraviolet (UV) B exposures of humans induce limited photoprotection against the immune effects of erythemal UVB radiation

Background  Exposure of human subjects to ultraviolet (UV) B radiation causes immunosuppression. Most experiments to date have not tested the effects of low daily doses of UVB radiation.

The Role of T‐Regulatory Cells and Toll‐Like Receptors 2 and 4 In Atopic Dermatitis

Regulatory T cells (Tregs), toll‐like receptors (TLRs) and interleukin‐17 (IL‐17) play important role in inflammatory diseases; however, their relevance in atopic dermatitis (AD) pathogenesis is not clear. The aim of study was to evaluate the number of circulating Tregs and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) expressing TLR2 and TLR4 receptors in patients with AD. PBMC and CD4+/CD25high+ Tregs were isolated from the whole blood of 32 AD patients and 36 healthy volunteers. Expression of CD4+CD25+, TLR2 and TLR4 receptors and IL 17+ was assessed with the flow cytometry. In the peripheral blood of AD patients, the percentage of Tregs was significantly higher when compared with the controls (P = 0.0003). The number of TLR2+PBMC and TLR4+ PBMC in AD patients was significantly lower than in the controls (P = 0.035; P = 0.001, respectively). Also the percentages of Tregs with expression of both TLR2+ and TLR4+ in AD patients were significantly lower than in the control (3.85 versus 21.6, P < 0.0001; 2.2 versus 17.6, P < 0.0001, simultaneously). The percentage of CD4+/CD25high+/FOXP3+ Treg lymphocytes with expression of IL‐17 was significantly higher in AD group than in healthy subjects (0.3% versus 0.06%; P = 0.011). Distinct number of Tregs and various distribution of TLR2 and TLR4 expression on PBMC in AD patients suggest their contribution in the pathogenesis of AD.

An enhanced risk of basal cell carcinoma is associated with particular polymorphisms in the VDR and MTHFR genes

Background:  Vitamin D and folate are influenced by ultraviolet radiation (UVR), and both are implicated in skin carcinogenesis. Polymorphisms in the genes involved in the metabolism of these two compounds may alter the risk of basal cell carcinoma (BCC).

Serum Concentration of Interleukin-6 Is Increased Both in Active and Remission Stages of Pemphigus Vulgaris

As most studies on pemphigus vulgaris (PV) pathogenesis concern its active stage, we aimed to evaluate the serum concentration of TNF-α, IL-1, and IL-6 in PV patients in clinical remission. The study group consisted of sera from 19 PV patients in active stage and from 24 patients in clinical remission. 19 sera taken from healthy subjects served as the controls. Serum IL-6 concentrations in PV active and PV remission group were significantly higher when compared to the controls (P < .05). In patients in active stage of PV, a significant correlation between serum IL-1 and IL-6 concentrations was found (r P = 0.46; P < .05). We also found a negative correlation between TNF-α level and pemphigus antibodies titer in the patients from the remission group (r S = −0.47303; P < .02). Our data suggest that IL-6 and TNF-α may be involved in maintaining immunological disturbances in remission stage of PV.

Systematic administration of chloroquine in discoid lupus erythematosus reduces skin lesions via inhibition of angiogenesis.

Background.  Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) is a chronic cutaneous form of lupus erythematosus, characterized by inflammation and scarring skin lesions, with lymphocyte infiltration and vasodilation. Antimalarial drugs have beneficial therapeutic effects in DLE, partially resulting from their immunomodulating and photoprotective properties. The possible influence of these drugs on angiogenesis has not been previously evaluated.

The Imbalance in Serum Concentration of Th-1- and Th-2-Derived Chemokines as One of the Factors Involved in Pathogenesis of Atopic Dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory skin disease in which pathogenesis chemokines are partially involved. The aim of the paper was to assess the serum level of CXCL-9, CXCL-10, CXCL-11, CXCL-12, CCL-17, CCL-20, CCL-21, CCL-22, CCL-27, and IL-18 chosen in AD patients by ELISA assay. Forty patients (mean age 11.4 years old) with AD and 50 healthy controls were enrolled into the study. The patients and controls were divided into two age categories: under 10 years old (Group 1 and Control 1) and over 10 years old (Group 2 and Control 2). Significantly lower serum concentration of CXCL-9, CXCL-10, CCL-17, and IL-18 and higher concentration of CXCL-12 and CCL-27 were found in Group 1 when compared to Control 1. In Group 2 serum concentration of CXCL-12, CCL-17, CCL-22 was higher than in Control 2. The obtained results indicate the imbalance in chemokine serum levels in AD what suggests their role in the disease pathogenesis.

Risk factors in Central Poland for the development of superficial and nodular basal cell carcinomas

Introduction In the last decades the number of skin carcinomas has dramatically increased, which is mainly connected with changes in lifestyle, especially with common use of artificial light sources such as sunbeds. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common form of skin cancer in white populations. Basal cell carcinomas are divided into subtypes, depending on their clinical picture and histology. The main groups are nodular (nBCC) and superficial (sBCC) ones. The major recognized risk factors for basal cell carcinoma (BCC) are exposure to chronic and intermittent burning doses of sunlight. Other risk factors leading to the development of the nBCC and sBCC subtypes of BCC are not well established. Material and methods An analysis of 123 patients with either nBCC or sBCC, living in Lodz, Poland, regarding various intrinsic and environmental parameters was undertaken following the histological diagnosis of BCC. Results No statistical differences were observed between the BCC subtype and sex, age, hair colour, eye colour, smoking, family history of skin cancer, occupation, or past episodes of sunburn. While sBCCs tended to occur on unexposed body sites in phototype I/II subjects who mainly avoided direct sunlight, nBCCs tended to occur on sun-exposed body sites in phototype III subjects who were frequently in direct sunlight. Conclusions Thus the development of particular BCC subtypes is partially dependent on phototype and personal sun behaviour.