title: HECA-452+ T cells migrate through superficial vascular plexus but not through deep vascular plexus endothelium.
abstract: The skin is nourished by two interconnected vascular systems, the superficial vascular plexus coursing just beneath the epidermis and the deep vascular plexus located above the subcutaneous tissue. Skin inflammatory T cells in diseases, such as psoriasis or dermatitis, strikingly aim for the superficial vascular plexus without involving the deep vascular plexus, and the infiltrating T cells bear a distinct phenotype expressing the cutaneous lymphocyte-associated antigen, which is recognized by mAb HECA-452. We wanted to know whether HECA-452+ lymphocytes indeed are able to distinguish between superficial and deep vascular plexus homing sites. Employing the hu-SCID mouse model grafted with human skin and human T cells, as described previously, we developed a new skin-grafting strategy providing superficial and deep vascular plexus skin specimens placed separately onto the same mouse. Fourteen days after allogeneic human T cell grafting, both human skin sites were densely infiltrated by human T cells, but only T cells within the superficial vascular plexus, but not within the deep vascular plexus, expressed the cutaneous lymphocyte-associated antigen. IL-2 and IFN-gamma expression and allogeneic vessel destruction were present within both superficial and deep vascular plexus skin. This model provides direct evidence that expression of a specific homing receptor is indeed able to direct lymphocyte traffic, not only to a distinct organ but also to a distinct vascular bed within one organ.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Vienna Medical School, Austria.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kunstfeld
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lechleitner
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gröger
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wolff
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Petzelbauer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000032:analysis*; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000166:cytology; D002465:Cell Movement; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000235:genetics; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000235:genetics; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D016513:Mice, SCID; D010641:Phenotype; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; C063419:CTAGE1 protein, human; D007376:Interleukin-2; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D007371:Interferon-gamma