title: Restricted T-cell receptor V beta gene usage in the skin of patients with guttate and chronic plaque psoriasis.
abstract: A strong association between acute guttate psoriasis and group A, beta-haemolytic streptococcal infections is well established. Furthermore, streptococcal M proteins and toxins have been shown to act as superantigens, stimulating subpopulations of T lymphocytes expressing particular V beta families. We have therefore studied the possible role of streptococcal superantigens in psoriasis by staining peripheral T lymphocytes and skin sections from patients with guttate or chronic plaque psoriasis for the expression of nine TCR V beta families, using a range of monoclonal antibodies. A marked over-representation of V beta 2+ T lymphocytes was observed in the dermis and epidermis of patients in both groups, when compared with T lymphocytes in their peripheral blood. A less marked dermal increase in V beta 5.1+ T lymphocytes was also observed in these patients. These findings are consistent with the involvement of a superantigen, possibly streptococcal, in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, London, U.K.
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bokth
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Powles
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Garioch
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Valdimarsson
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fry
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000276:immunology*; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology*; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000276:immunology; D018089:Superantigens / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D018089:Superantigens