Intraepidermal lymphocytes in psoriatic lesions are activated GMP-17(TIA-1)+CD8+CD3+ CTLs as determined by phenotypic analysis.
The onset and persistence of psoriatic lesions are linked to the presence of an inflammatory infiltrate of CD3+ lymphocytes that includes CD4+ and CD8+ subsets. Since a primary susceptibility factor for psoriasis is the Class I HLA-Cw6 molecule, we set out to learn more about the features of the epidermal CD8+ lymphocytes. The markers tested were GMP-17, a cytotoxic granule protein found in activated cytotoxic lymphocytes (CTLs), and the alpha chain of the IL-2 receptor (CD25), a plasma membrane molecule found on activated T cells. Lymphocytes in lesional skin expressed the GMP-17 protein, whereas lymphocytes in non-lesional skin, resolving lesional skin and normal skin had little or no GMP-17. By flow cytometry analysis, lesional epidermal GMP-17+ cells were CD8+CD3+, with a subpopulation expressing the activation marker CD25+. Due to the abundance of activated GMP-17+CD8+CD3+ lymphocytes (the phenotype of activated cytotoxic cells) in psoriatic lesions compared to non-lesional and normal skin, we hypothesize that they are contributing directly to the psoriatic phenotype.
Austin
L M
LM
Laboratory of Investigative Dermatology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA.
Coven
T R
TR
Bhardwaj
N
N
Steinman
R
R
Krueger
J G
JG
D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D004817:Epidermis / Q000473:pathology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D010641:Phenotype; D039102:Poly(A)-Binding Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology; D000074019:T-Cell Intracellular Antigen-1; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*
D017252:CD3 Complex; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C499363:NKG7 protein, human; D039102:Poly(A)-Binding Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D000074019:T-Cell Intracellular Antigen-1; C071558:TIA1 protein, human; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor