The activation of T lymphocytes plays an important role in atopic dermatitis pathogenesis. In acute atopic dermatitis, a T-helper (TH)2 cytokine profile is predominantly seen, with increased expression of interleukin (IL)-4, lL-5, and IL-13 (Stone 2003). In chronic atopic dermatitis, the cytokine profile changes to a TH1 predominant profile, with increased expression of interferon y (IFN-y) (Leung et al. 2004). Activated T lymphocytes also are responsible for direct cell-mediated keratinocyte apoptosis, which contributes to the spongiosis pattern of epidermal injury characteristic of acute atopic dermatitis (Trautmann et al. 2001),