Abstract: Zhang Baoxiang*, Lin Mao, Duan Zhiwu, Zhang Diancai. *Department of Dermatology, Yidu Central Hospital of Weifang City, Weifang 262500, Shandong, China Corresponding author: Lin Mao, Email: lmsleeper1981@gmail.com 【Abstract】 Objective To quantify the percentage of CD8+ T cells and their expressions of cytotoxic molecules and homing-related chemokine receptors in peripheral blood from patients with atopic dermatitis （AD）. Methods Peripheral blood was obtained from 15 patients with AD and 14 healthy controls. Flow cytometric analysis was performed to determine the percentages of CD8+ T cells and CD8+CLA+ T cells in the peripheral blood samples, as well as the expression levels of cytotoxic molecules and homing-related chemokine receptors on these cells. Differences in these parameters were analyzed using t test, and relationship between these parameters was evaluated using Pearson correlation coefficient. Results No significant difference was observed between the patients with AD and healthy controls in the percentage of CD8+ T cells, the expressions of perforin, granzyme B, CCR10, CCR6 or FasL on CD8+ T cells, or the expressions of CCR4, CCR10, CXCR6 or FasL on CLA+CD8+ T cells （all P > 0.05）. A significant increase was noted in the percentage of CLA+CD8+ T cells （3.80% ± 1.46% vs. 2.18% ± 0.85%, t = 3.636, P < 0.01） and expression rates of CCR4 on CD8+ T cells （13.86% ± 4.42% vs. 9.50% ± 2.14%, t = 3.738, P < 0.01） as well as perforin and granzyme B on CLA+CD8+ T cells （74.27% ± 15.94% vs. 57.20% ± 14.64%, t = 2.998, P < 0.01; 70.90% ± 13.85% vs. 56.41% ± 11.00%, t = 3.104, P < 0.01） in the patients with AD compared with the healthy controls. Conclusions The proportion of CLA+CD8+ T cells is increased with enhanced expressions of cytotoxic molecules such as perforin and granzyme B in peripheral blood of patients with AD, which may contribute to the pathogenesis of AD.

Key words: Dermatitis, atopic, CD8-positive T-lymphocytes, Cutaneous lymphocyte-associated antigen, Grazymes, Receptors, chemokine