Objective      To analyze the expressions of CD69 and CD107a on peripheral blood mono-nuclear cells (PBMCs) in patients with drug rash

and to explore their relationship with delayed-type drug hypersensitivity.       Methods      PBMCs were isolated from the peripheral blood samples that was collected from 20 patients with drug rash and 10 healthy controls from May 2010 to April 2

011 by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation. The obtained PBMCs were resuspended and cultured in 24-well plates with 2×10

6

cells/well

and were incubated with the culprit drugs. After 72 h

the expressions of CD69 and CD107a were detected by flow cytometry.       Results      In the healthy control group

there was no significant difference between the ratios of CD107a

+

CD69

+

and CD107a

+

CD69

+

PBMCs before and after the culprit drug incubation [(0.41±0.18)%

(0.33±0.13)% and (0.12±0.06)% vs (0.38±0.28)%

(0.35±0.12)% and (0.14±0.08)%

]

. In the patients group

the ratios of CD107a

+

CD69

+

and CD107a

+

CD69

+

PBMCs significantly increased in a dose-dependent manner after the culprit drug incubation as compared with those before the incubation [(9.01±2.91)%

(1.78±0.76)% and (0.74±0.19)% vs (0.45±0.25)%

(0.31±0.12)% and (0.15±0.07)%

]

. The ratios of CD107a

+

CD69

+

and CD107a

+

CD69

+

PBMCs of the patients group were significantly different from those of the healthy control group after the culprit drug incubation (P0.01)

while the differences were not significant between the two groups before the incubation.       Conclusion      Culprit drugs-treated PBMCs of patients with drug rash have upregulations of CD69 and CD107a.