Immune Reactions in Contact Dermatitis Affected Skin
![]() |
The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details. |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01546298 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : March 7, 2012
Last Update Posted : June 20, 2018
|
- Study Details
- Tabular View
- No Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Allergic Contact Dermatitis | Other: Patch tests |
Allergic contact dermatitis is a term for a skin reaction resulting from exposure to specific substances that come into contact with skin that is hypersensitive (allergic) to the substance. These substances are called "allergens." Some common allergens are nickel, rubber, dyes, poison ivy, poison oak and other related plants. These allergens do not cause a skin reaction in most individuals, but for some, once the skin becomes sensitive or allergic to the substance, any exposure to that specific allergen will produce a rash that may consist of redness, swelling and blisters. This rash may become worse with each exposure to the allergen. The skin reaction results from two phases. In the induction phase, initial exposure to the allergen occurs. The body recognizes the allergen as foreign and the immune system, which is the body's primary line of defense against infections and other things perceived as foreign to the body, mounts an immune response against the body, itself. During this immune response, cells specific to the allergen are activated. In the second phase, the elicitation phase, the skin is again exposed to the allergen and an immune response occurs, as the cells that are specific to the allergen attack the skin, leading to the rash. In order to diagnose allergic contact dermatitis, a clinician will discuss the materials that touch the patient's skin at work and home and perform patch tests. In a patch test, a very small amount of the suspected allergens are applied to the skin for a fixed time. After that designated time, the clinician will determine whether a reaction has occurred to the applied allergens. Currently, the main treatment for allergic contact dermatitis is avoidance of the allergen.
This study hopes to improve our understanding of how the immune system acts in allergic contact dermatitis. In order to reach this goal, normal volunteers, who are suspected of having allergic contact dermatitis, will be patch tested for the fifteen most common allergens. Then, biopsies will be taken of the skin at the sites where the there is a positive reaction to the allergen. Also, small biopsies will be taken from an area that received a patch but no allergen and an area that did not receive a patch to serve as controls. In a second stage of the study, volunteers will receive patches with the allergen to which they demonstrated an allergic response. More biopsies will be taken, over three designated time points. The biopsied skin samples will then be studied in a laboratory by methods such as immunohistochemistry and microarray analysis, which will help define the progression of the immune reaction in allergic contact dermatitis. The rationale for the study is to better understand how the immune system is activated to produce the rash of allergic contact dermatitis, so that treatments can target the cells that are involved in the activation.
Study Type : | Observational |
Actual Enrollment : | 9 participants |
Observational Model: | Cohort |
Time Perspective: | Prospective |
Official Title: | Analysis of Immune Reactions Occurring Upon Administration of Patch Tests and Contact Dermatitis Affected Skin |
Actual Study Start Date : | January 2012 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | December 14, 2012 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | December 14, 2012 |
- Other: Patch tests
Patch tests for allergic reaction
- The response elicited by the allergen on relevant immune pathways as measured by cytokine levels in skin of IFNγ (Th1 pathway), IL-13 (Th2 pathway), IL-9 (Th9 pathway), IL-17 (Th17 pathway) and IL-22 (Th22 pathway). [ Time Frame: 5 weeks ]The response elicited by the allergen on relevant immune pathways as measured by cytokine levels in skin of IFNγ (Th1 pathway), IL-13 (Th2 pathway), IL-9 (Th9 pathway), IL-17 (Th17 pathway) and IL-22 (Th22 pathway).
- Skin samples will be analyzed by immunohistochemistry for various cell types. [ Time Frame: Day 2 and Day 7 ]Skin samples will be analyzed by immunohistochemistry for various cell types including several T cell subsets (CD4+ vs CD8+ and Foxp3+ subsets), dendritic cells, natural killer cells, macrophages, B cells, and neutrophils. Expression of cytokine mRNAs in these samples will be used to assess Th1 (interferon-gamma), Th2 (IL-4, IL-13),Th17 (IL-17), and Th22 (IL-22) T cell activation.
Biospecimen Retention: Samples With DNA

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.
Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years to 85 Years (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | Yes |
Sampling Method: | Non-Probability Sample |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Male or non-pregnant, non-nursing female between 18 and 85 years of age
- Able to give verbal and written informed consent
- Must have a negative urine pregnancy test (for WOCBP).
- Must be suspected by clinician of having ACD (history or self-report of signs of ACD as defined as eczematous rash development with fragrances, use of non-gold or silver jewelry, use of hair dye, cosmetics) and/or a relevant food allergy (one of the allergens we will be testing)
Exclusion Criteria:
Subjects taking any of the following systemic or topical therapies within 2 weeks of enrollment: corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, and/or any other medications that may affect the outcome of the study
History of or suspected occupational allergies.
Subjects who are nursing mothers or pregnant
Hepatitis A, B, or C (self-reported)
Subjects who have active localized or systemic medical conditions that, in the opinion of the investigator, would preclude or make unsafe their participation in the study
Subjects who are unable to comply with study procedures, communicate effectively, cooperate with the investigator, or are unable to understand the study
Subjects who have been treated with an investigational device or drug within 30 days of enrollment
HIV positive as determined by self-reported history and/or a HIV POCT at screening
History, physical, social or lab findings suggestive of any medical or psychological condition that would, in the opinion of the PI, make the candidate ineligible for the study
Known anaphylactic reaction to food being tested in this study

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT01546298
United States, New York | |
The Rockefeller University | |
New York, New York, United States, 10065 |
Principal Investigator: | Emma Guttman, MD,PhD | The Rockefeller University |
Responsible Party: | Rockefeller University |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT01546298 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
EGU-0757 |
First Posted: | March 7, 2012 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | June 20, 2018 |
Last Verified: | June 2018 |
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: | |
Plan to Share IPD: | Undecided |
Contact Dermatitis |
Dermatitis Dermatitis, Contact Dermatitis, Allergic Contact Skin Diseases |
Skin Diseases, Eczematous Hypersensitivity, Delayed Hypersensitivity Immune System Diseases |