Study of lymphocyte subpopulations in contact dermatitis by sensitization to chrome and/or nickel

Contact dermatitis is a hyperergic reaction mediated predominantly by T lymphocytes in which the target tissue is the skin. In this way and taking as a starting point that contact dermatitis is a reaction typically mediated by T lymphocytes, our aim is to study the possible existence of an unbalance between the lymphocyte subpopulations OKT-4+ and OKT-8- (T mu and T gamma) in comparison to a normal population and if, on the other hand, any of these subpopulations are involved in the increase of lymphocytes that form E active rosettes. We can see that there are no significant variations with regard to the number and function of the lymphocyte populations in individuals with contact dermatitis when we compare them to a control group. On the other hand, we consider it very important to emphasize that we have failed to detect differences in the parameters of lymphocyte populations and subpopulations studied before and after contact with the causal antigen responsible for the cutaneous condition.