Abstract
One of the key functional parameters determining the immune response to dermatophyte antigen is the nature of cytokines produced by T cells. IFN-γ (T cell-derived cytokine) is involved in the elicitation of delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH). In response to stimulation by trichophytin, IFN-γ was produced in peripheral lymphocytes obtained from patients with extremely acute inflammatory dermatophytosis. In contrast, markedly lower levels of IFN-γ production were found in chronically infected patients. These results suggest that IFN-γ-mediated DTH is responsible for producing the cutaneous manifestations associated with dermatophytosis and host defenses against dermatophyte infections.
Subcorneal pustules during dermatophytic infections are not a characteristic of DTH. The stimulation of trichophytin significantly enhanced the release of IL-8 from keratinocytes, perhaps accounting for the accumulation of neutrophils beneath the stratum corneum.
It therefore appears that some clinical manifestations of dermatophytosis and host defenses can be attributed to DTH and keratinocyte-stimulation by dermatophyte antigen.
