Immunohistochemical demonstration of migration inhibitory factor in different types of urticaria

Because urticarial lesions can persist for extended periods of time, we have investigated the histochemical expression of an antibody against the cytokine macrophage inhibitory factor in 23 patients with different types of urticaria. Positive staining of upper and middermal dendritic cells was noted in sections from all three biopsy specimens of acute urticaria, eight of chronic urticaria, and all six of urticaria pigmentosa lesions. In all but one biopsy specimen, endothelial cells reacted as well. In three sections (two chronic urticaria, one urticaria pigmentosa), luminal lining cells of sweat glands were also noted to stain positively. In contrast, lesional skin from all eight patients with pressure urticaria was negative, as was the clinically normal skin of all patients, with the exception of one patient with urticaria pigmentosa. The data suggest that cytokines may be involved in lesions of acute type immunologic processes and that they need not be expressed in delayed type reactions.