Serum concentrations of CCR4 ligands in relation to clinical severity of atopic dermatitis in Egyptian children.

T helper 2 (Th2) lymphocytes, the key effector cells in pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD), express CCR4 receptors. CCR4 ligands (macrophage-derived chemokine 'MDC' and thymus and activation-regulated chemokine 'TARC') direct trafficking and recruitment of Th2 cells into lesional skin in AD. These chemokines appear to be useful inflammatory markers for assessing severity of AD in adults.