It has been shown that IL-4 can stimulate keratinocyte proliferation (72), that epidermal cells have IL-4 receptors, and IL-4R GDC-0068 nmr expression is elevated in psoriasis (73). Microarray analysis of two PBMC samples obtained from a recurrent crusted scabies patient (one obtained when the patient had severe disease and the other after treatment and apparent cure) revealed significant upregulation of amphiregulin and epiregulin at the time of severe disease (Walton S.F. and Currie B.J., unpublished data). Both proteins are members of the epidermal growth factor family and are associated with growth of normal epithelial cells. Over expression has also been

associated with a psoriasis-like skin phenotype (74,75). Recent results have identified patients with both crusted scabies and ordinary scabies to have strong PBMC proliferative responses to multiple S. scabiei homologues to HDM allergens (Walton S.F., unpublished data). Studies show for the first time that clinical phenotype, i.e. ordinary vs. crusted scabies, is associated with differences in the type and magnitude of the immune response to S. scabiei proteins. Quantitative analysis of cytokine levels showed the IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio was significantly selleck compound higher in supernatant from S. scabiei stimulated PBMC from patients with ordinary scabies compared to patients

with crusted scabies, and increased levels of IL-5 and IL-13 were observed in stimulated PBMC from crusted scabies compared to patients Oxymatrine with ordinary scabies. These latter results support the hypothesis of nonprotective Th2 activity in patients with crusted scabies, leading in part to the documented high levels of total and specific IgE observed and the growth and development of mast cells. This has been detected

in similar studies of HDM allergy, particularly with the immunodominant allergens Der p 1 and Der f 1 (76). Additionally, scabies mites have been reported to secrete unknown antigens that stimulate the proliferation of T-regulatory cells and their secretion of IL-10, which would inhibit the inflammatory and immune responses in humans to the mites (77). Tissue and blood feeding parasites face significant threats to their early survival caused by host innate immune responses. Scabies mites feed on epidermal protein and host plasma and thus are also exposed to host defence mechanisms both internally and externally. Complement has been shown to be an important component in host defence against blood feeding ticks, as for many other pathogens (78,79). Serine proteases from the cattle parasite Hypoderma lineatum and laval secretory/excretory products (predominantly chymotrypsin) from the sheep blowfly Lucilia cuprina are able to deplete activity of both alternative and classical complement pathways of the host via C3 degradation (80,81).