Predominant usage of distinct T-cell receptor V beta regions by epidermotropic T cells in psoriasis.
To investigate the role of T cells in psoriasis, we analyzed the T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) and in skin lesions of 9 patients with chronic plaque-stage psoriasis by means of immunohistochemistry. An extended panel of monoclonal antibodies detecting 11 different V beta families was employed in this study. In the peripheral blood, no predominant TCR V beta expression was detected and interindividual differences were small. Skin-infiltrating T cells showed only marginal differences in the TCR V beta usage when compared with PBLs. However, in 3 patients the intraepidermal infiltrate comprised up to 40% of T cells expressing a TCR V beta region which was virtually absent in the peripheral blood and the dermal infiltrate. Thus, although the TCR V beta usage of skin-infiltrating T cells showed little difference compared to PBLs, several cases exhibited a significant increase of epidermotrophic T cells using one particular V beta region.
Boehncke
W H
WH
Department of Dermatology, University of Ulm, Germany.
Küenzlen
C
C
Zollner
T M
TM
Mielke
V
V
Sterry
W
W
D004817:Epidermis / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000276:immunology*; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta