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  • Title: Cytotoxic mechanisms in different forms of T-cell-mediated drug allergies.
    Author: Kuechler PC, Britschgi M, Schmid S, Hari Y, Grabscheid B, Pichler WJ.
    Journal: Allergy; 2004 Jun; 59(6):613-22. PubMed ID: 15147446.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: Cytotoxic mechanisms are involved in different forms of drug induced exanthems. METHODS: Here we compare the killing pathways of CD4+, CD8+ and CD4/CD8+ T-cell lines (TCL) and clones derived from patients suffering from maculopapular, bullous and pustular drug eruptions. In vitro, perforin and Fas-mediated killing was analysed in cytotoxicity assays against autologous Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed B-cell lines, Fas-transfected mouse lymphoblasts and natural killer (NK)-target cells. In addition, affected skin lesions and the TCL and clones were stained for perforin and FasL-expression. RESULTS: We detected perforin and some FasL-mediated killing in all three types of exanthems. Some of the drug-specific T-cell clones analysed exerted mainly perforin-, other more FasL-mediated killing showing no strict relationship between their perforin- and Fas-mediated cytotoxic capacity. Using a cell culture method focusing on the generation of cytotoxic T cells, we detected drug-specific CD8+, TCRalphabeta+ T cells, which failed to proliferate to drug presentation by antigen presenting cells but killed in a drug dependent way. Interestingly, these cells had substantial natural killer-like T cell(s) like features as they were CD56+ and CD94+ and had the ability to kill the NK-sensitive cell line K562. CONCLUSION: Our data underline the important role of cytotoxic mechanisms in different forms of drug induced exanthems and suggest that even some T cells with NK-like characteristics may be involved in drug hypersensitivity.
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