Lymphocyte transformation in vitro in dermatophytosis

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Dermatology
• Mycology

Background:

• Dermatophytosis is a common superficial fungal infection.
• Understanding the host immune response is crucial for managing fungal infections.
• Lymphocyte transformation tests (LT) assess cellular immune function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the in vitro lymphocyte immune response in patients with dermatophytosis.
• To evaluate the specificity of immune responses to various fungal antigens.
• To determine if immune responses correlate with infection type or chronicity.

Main Methods:

• Peripheral blood lymphocytes from 59 dermatophytosis patients and 9 healthy controls were analyzed.
• Lymphocyte transformation tests (LT) were performed using mitogens and fungal antigens (Candida albicans, Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Epidermophyton floccosum, Microsporum canis).

Main Results:

• Most patients had normal T-cell function, as indicated by responses to mitogens and non-dermatophyte antigens.
• Lymphocytes from patients with dermatophytosis showed enhanced responses to fungal antigens compared to controls.
• Stronger responses to Trichophyton mentagrophytes antigen in TM-infected patients suggested species specificity.
• Elevated responses to Trichophyton antigens in patients with TR or TM infections indicated genus specificity.

Conclusions:

• Patients with dermatophytosis exhibit an active, antigen-specific cellular immune response.
• The study suggests species and genus specificity in the immune response to dermatophyte antigens.
• No significant differences were found between acute and chronic Trichophyton rubrum infections in LT response.