Characterization of lesional psoriatic skin T lymphocyte clones.
T cells are considered to play a role in the pathomechanism of psoriasis. Therefore we investigated the cytokine production patterns of T cell clones that were randomly prepared from chronic plaque psoriasis lesions of 2 patients. 67% of the 49 T lymphocyte clones (TLC) expressed CD4 and 33% expressed CD8 (ratio 2:1), while gamma delta-TCR expression was absent. The production of IL-4, IFN-gamma, IL-2 and IL-6 was measured in supernatants of TLC following PHA plus PMA stimulation. Different groups of clones could be distinguished according to their IL-4/IFN-gamma production ratio. In addition to Th0 cells (low IL-4/low IFN-gamma), low IL-4/high IFN-gamma producers as well as high IL-4/low IFN-gamma producing clones were found, suggesting the presence of Th1- and Th2-like subsets. Upon stimulation, all TLC secreted low levels of IL-2 whereas a minority of the TLC secreted low levels of IL-6. These results may imply that T cells in psoriasis lesions do not show shifts towards either a Th1 or a Th2 cytokine production profile.
Barna
M
M
Department of Dermatology, Academisch Medisch Centrum, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Snijdewint
F G
FG
van der Heijden
F L
FL
Bos
J D
JD
Kapsenberg
M L
ML
D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002999:Clone Cells; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D011897:Random Allocation; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000032:analysis; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
D016207:Cytokines; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma