014 IL-27 induces IL-15 production to facilitate T cell survival in allergic contact dermatitis

Abstract

Re-exposure to an allergen (Ag) initiates the efferent phase and clinical expression of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) characterized by recruitment of Ag-specific T cells to the sites of Ag challenge. We observed that, in contrast to non-lesional skin of ACD patients, skin of (+) patch-tested individuals showed high expression of IL-15 in keratinocytes, and in monocyte/macrophage (MAC) within dermal hair follicle (HF)-associated immune cell clusters. Within these clusters, T cells with high BCL2 interacted with CD14+ cells co-expressing IL-15 and iNOS and/or CD86 and IL-27.