HLA-DR-positive keratinocytes are associated with suppressor lymphocyte epidermotropism. A biomathematical study.
The expression of HLA-DR antigen on keratinocytes has recently been described as a frequent finding in various dermatologic disorders without restriction to a particular entity or a peculiar histologic reaction pattern, except for the association with a mononuclear dermal infiltrate. To determine the relationship of HLA-DR+ keratinocytes and T lymphocyte epidermotropism in human disease in vivo, 82 skin specimens were investigated by immunohistologic and stereologic methods and by two- and three-dimensional linear regression analysis. In randomly selected cases of various dermatoses, HLA-DR+ keratinocytes were associated with T lymphocyte epidermotropism. Furthermore, HLA-DR+ keratinocytes correlated particularly with the proportion of epidermotropic suppressor/cytotoxic cells. Our findings demonstrate that HLA-DR+ keratinocytes are associated with a particular pattern of epidermotropism, which may suggest an interaction of keratinocytes and T suppressor/cytotoxic cells in vivo.
Smolle
J
J
Department of Dermatology, University of Graz, Austria.
Soyer
H P
HP
Juettner
F M
FM
Torne
R
R
Stettner
H
H
Kerl
H
H
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D004817:Epidermis / Q000276:immunology*; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007633:Keratins / Q000276:immunology*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D007633:Keratins