Gamma/delta T lymphocytes in cutaneous necrotizing vasculitis.
Sections of lesional skin of 5 patients with leukocytoclastic cutaneous necrotizing vasculitis (CNV) (3 with documented infective etiology and 2 with unknow etiology) and of 5 patients with lymphocytic CNV with unknow etiology were investigated with immunoperoxidase technique. In lymphocytic CNV the dermal infiltrate was mainly constituted of CD3+, CD4+, CD1a+ and CD36+ cells. ICAM-1 and LFA-1 were strongly expressed. In leukocytoclastic CNV the infiltrate was poor of these cells in the early phase of disease, but they increased in the late phase. ICAM-1 and LFA-1 were strongly expressed in the late phase, while gamma/delta T cells and the expression of 72 kD heat shock protein were significantly present only in leukocytoclastic CNV with documented infective etiology. These results seem to suggest the role of a secondary cell-mediated immune response in the late phase of leukocytoclastic CNV, indicating gamma/delta T cells as a possible clue to the infective etiology of CNV.
Campanile
G
G
Department of Dermatology, University of Florence, Italy.
Comacchi
C
C
Ghersetich
I
I
Lotti
T
T
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000032:analysis; D016169:Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1 / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017445:Skin Diseases, Vascular / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D016169:Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1