UVB radiation preferentially induces recruitment of memory CD4+ T cells in normal human skin: long-term effect after a single exposure.
Acute, low-doses of ultraviolet (UV)-B radiation affect the immune competent cells of the skin immune system. In this study, we examined the time-dependent changes of the cutaneous T cell population in normal human volunteers following a single local exposure to UV. Solar-simulated UV radiation caused an initial decrease in intraepidermal T cell numbers, even leading to T cell depletion at day 4, whereupon a considerable infiltration of T cells in the epidermis occurred that peaked at day 14. In the dermis the number of T cells was markedly increased at days 2 (peak) and 4 after irradiation, and subsequently declined to the nonirradiated control values at day 10. Double-staining with several T cell markers showed that the T cells, infiltrating the (epi)dermis upon UV exposure, were almost exclusively CD4+ CD45RO+ T cells, expressing an alpha/beta type T cell receptor, but lacking the activation markers HLA-DR, VLA-1, and IL-2R. Application of UVB radiation resulted in similar dynamics of T cells, indicating that the UVB wavelengths within the solar-simulated UV radiation were responsible for the selective influx of CD4+ T cells. In conjunction with UVB-induced alterations in the type and function of antigen-presenting cells (i.e., Langerhans cells and macrophages), the changes of the cutaneous T cell population may also contribute to UVB-induced immunosuppression at skin level in man.
Di Nuzzo
S
S
Department of Dermatology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Sylva-Steenland
R M
RM
de Rie
M A
MA
Das
P K
PK
Bos
J D
JD
Teunissen
M B
MB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000032:analysis; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology / Q000528:radiation effects; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology / Q000528:radiation effects; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory / Q000528:radiation effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000276:immunology / Q000528:radiation effects; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000528:radiation effects; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
D017252:CD3 Complex; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta