The relationship between T lymphocyte subsets and Ia-like antigen positive nonlymphoid cells in early stages of cutaneous T cell lymphoma.
Immunofluorescence studies were carried out in cutaneous T cell lymphoma (mycosis fungoides) in order to analyse the microanatomical relationship of the different T lymphocyte subsets (inducer and suppressor/cytotoxic cell populations) to large nonlymphoid Langerhans-type and so-called "indeterminate" or interdigitating cells. The conventional and mouse (monoclonal) antibodies were used in various combinations using fluorescein and rhodamine labeled second layers. In 5 of the 7 cases studied the dermal infiltrate consisted of numerous T (HuTLA+) lymphocytes, 80-90% of which expressed the inducer phenotype (HuTLA+,OKT4+). Most of these cells formed close contact with large cells exhibiting large amounts of Ia-like antigens. These cells corresponded to the interdigitating and indeterminate cells in the sections. By contrast, only small numbers (10-20%) of T cells of suppressor/cytotoxic type (HuTLA+,OKT8+) were seen. These did not show a close affinity to the Ia-like antigen positive nonlymphoid component but appeared to have a predilection for the epidermis. Epidermal Langerhans cells, also strongly Ia-like antigen positive, were further defined by 2 monoclonal antibodies reacting with a cortical thymocyte antigen HTA-1. Although Langerhans cells are probably related to the Ia-like antigen positive dermal cells only a few of the abundant latter population were HTA-1+. In the remaining 2 cases, larger populations of OKT8+ (suppressor/cytotoxic) cells were seen and could be heralding a particularly benign course. These observations indicate a close functional relationship between the lymphoid and Ia-like antigen positive dermal cells during the pre-malignant phase of cutaneous T cell lymphoma.
D000368:Aged; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009182:Mycosis Fungoides / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*
D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II