Anti-Ia-reactive cells in mycosis fungoides: a study of skin biopsies, single epidermal cells and circulating T lymphocytes.
Skin sections, epidermal cells in suspension and circulating T lymphocytes were investigated for the presence of Ia-like antigens in a group of patients with the cutaneous T-cell lymphoma mycosis fungoides (MF) and in healthy controls. Highly purified anti-Ia antibodies were used in indirect immunofluorescence, indirect peroxidase and peroxidase-antiperoxidase techniques. Allogeneic and autologous mixed leukocyte reaction tests with epidermal cells from MF lesions as stimulator cells were also performed. The majority of the dermal lympho-histiocytes and mononuclear cells in the epidermal  Pautrier microabscesses expressed Ia-like antigens. So also did a greater proportion of circulating T lymphocytes than in the controls. In some MF patients a high percentage of single epidermal cells of non-lymphoid character also reacted with the antibodies. The possible significance of the present findings for the pathogenesis of MF is discussed.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009182:Mycosis Fungoides / Q000276:immunology*; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II