Restricted T-cell receptor V beta gene usage in the skin of patients with guttate and chronic plaque psoriasis.
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.
Lewis
H M
HM
Department of Dermatology, St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, London, U.K.
Baker
B S
BS
Bokth
S
S
Powles
A V
AV
Garioch
J J
JJ
Valdimarsson
H
H
Fry
L
L
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*
D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D018089:Superantigens