Chronic actinic dermatitis. An immunohistochemical study of its T-cell antigenic profile, with comparison to cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.
Chronic actinic dermatitis (CAD) describes a persistent photosensitivity disorder in the absence of continued exposure to photosensitizers; it is characterized by a T-cell infiltrate within the epidermis and dermis. The purpose of this study was to characterize the T-cell infiltrate better immunohistochemically. Serial cryostat sections of fresh-frozen punch biopsy specimens of skin were analyzed in 11 patients with CAD and 3 patients with erythrodermic cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). Monoclonal antibodies against the pan T-cell, pan B-cell, and T-cell subsets and the T cell-receptor (TCR) antigens were used. CD8-positive (T-suppressor-cytotoxic) cells were predominant in the epidermis of CAD, while CD4-positive (T-helper) cells were predominant in the epidermis and dermis of CTCL. CDw29-positive (T-memory) cells were predominant in all cases. The number of BF1 (beta-chain constant region of the TCR)-positive cells approximated the number of CD3-positive cells in all CAD cases but was significantly lower than the number of CD3-positive cells in two of three cases of CTCL. There was no clustering or preferential staining with any of the beta-chain variable-region antibodies in any of the specimens. These results indicate that CAD has a characteristic immunophenotype distinct from that of most cases of CTCL and that discordance between BF1 and CD3 expressions did not occur in the CAD cases.
Heller
P
P
Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Services, New York Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, NY 10010.
Wieczorek
R
R
Waldo
E
E
Meola
T
T
Buchness
M R
MR
Soter
N A
NA
Lim
H W
HW
D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000032:analysis; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004817:Epidermis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007156:Immunologic Memory / Q000276:immunology; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D016410:Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D010787:Photosensitivity Disorders / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000032:analysis; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000473:pathology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000473:pathology
D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D017252:CD3 Complex; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta