E-selectin and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 are critical for initial trafficking of helper-inducer/memory T cells in psoriatic plaques.
BACKGROUND
To better understand local migration of inflammatory cells in psoriasis, we compared immunohistochemically the expression of cell adhesion molecules on endothelial cells of papillary microvessels, a subpapillary microvessel (SPMV), with the phenotypic profile of infiltrating T cells in initial, active, and involuting psoriatic lesions.


RESULTS
Intercellular adhesion molecule-1, E-selectin, and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) on papillary microvessel E-selectin and VCAM-1 on SPMV that had not been detected in normal/noninvolved skin were induced in psoriatic lesions. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 on SPMV was constitutively expressed in normal/noninvolved skin and augmented in the degree of expression in psoriatic lesions. Intraepidermal and dermal angiocentric T cells in the initial and active lesions belonged predominantly to the CD3+, CD4+, CD45RO+, lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1+, and very late antigen-4+ helper-inducer/memory subset. The number of these memory T cells around SPMV was significantly correlated with the degree of expression of E-selectin and VCAM-1 on SPMV in the initial lesion. Intraepidermal memory T cells in the active lesion showed significant correlation with the expression of E-selectin and VCAM-1 on PMV. The CD8+ cells were dominant in the epidermis of the involuting phase. None of the adhesion molecules studied seemed to play a role in infiltration of this cell type.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest (1) participation of memory T cells in the formation of the initial and active stages of psoriatic plaques, and (2) E-selectin and VCAM-1 on endothelium as the critical adhesion molecule for initial trafficking of memory T cells into psoriatic lesions.
Wakita
H
H
Department of Dermatology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Japan.
Takigawa
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002196:Capillaries / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002465:Cell Movement; D019040:E-Selectin; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000502:physiology*; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1
D015703:Antigens, CD; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D019040:E-Selectin; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1