Pathophysiological Study of Allergic Contact Dermatitis to Para-Phenylenediamine (PPD). Analysis of Cellular and Molecular Targets in Skin Inflammation

The current knowledge of the pathophysiology of allergic contact dermatitis is based on the murine model. In this model, CD8+ T cells are effector cells, and CD4+ T cells regulate the response by limiting the expansion of CD8+ T cells. The goal of this study is to characterize the pathophysiology of contact dermatitis, with patients allergic to para-phenylenediamine (PPD). We suppose that the CD8+ T cells are the effectors of the allergic contact dermatitis, although the regulator cells belong to the LT CD4+ population. We will test our hypothesis on blood samples, and cutaneous biopsies of patients allergic to PPD.