Markedly diminished epidermal keratinocyte expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in Sézary syndrome.
In mycosis fungoides the malignant T cells express lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1, which allows them to bind to epidermal keratinocytes expressing the gamma interferon-inducible intercellular adhesion molecule-1. In this report, a patient with leukemic-stage mycosis fungoides (Sézary syndrome) had widespread erythematous dermal infiltrates containing malignant T cells, but without any epidermotropism. We discovered that the T cells expressed normal amounts of functional lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1, but the keratinocytes did not express significant levels of intercellular adhesion molecule-1, which was probably due to the inability of the malignant T cells to produce gamma interferon. These results support the concept that the inability of malignant T cells to enter the epidermis may contribute to emergence of more clinically aggressive T-cell clones that are no longer confined to the skin, but infiltrate the blood, lymph nodes, and viscera, as is seen in Sézary syndrome.
Nickoloff
B J
BJ
Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor.
Griffiths
C E
CE
Baadsgaard
O
O
Voorhees
J J
JJ
Hanson
C A
CA
Cooper
K D
KD
D000368:Aged; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000032:analysis; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D002453:Cell Cycle; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D004817:Epidermis / Q000378:metabolism*; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007633:Keratins; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology; D016169:Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1; D008297:Male; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D012751:Sezary Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D016169:Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D007633:Keratins; D007371:Interferon-gamma