Macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC/CCL22) and CCR4 are involved in the formation of T lymphocyte-dendritic cell clusters in human inflamed skin and secondary lymphoid tissue.
Our previous study demonstrated formation of T cell-dendritic cell (DC) clusters in inflamed dermis of intraorally autotransplanted skin flaps. Such T cell-DC clusters are supposed to be important for close interactions between T cells and DCs including the specific antigen presentation. Here we show the involvement of the macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC/CCL22) and its specific receptor CC chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4) in the formation of T cell-DC clusters. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed high levels of mRNA expression for MDC and CCR4 in inflamed skin and neck lymph nodes (LNs), but not in normal skin. Immunohistochemically, MDC(+) cells and CCR4(+) cells were mainly located within the T cell-DC clusters both in the dermis of inflamed skin and the T cell area of LNs. MDC(+) cells were identified to be DCs both in inflamed skin and LNs. The majority of CCR4(+) cells were CD4(+) T cells, accounting for approximately one-third of total CD4(+) T cells in the inflamed skin. Our data suggest that the MDC-CCR4 system plays an important role in the formation of T cell-DC clusters both in inflamed skin and LNs.
Katou
F
F
Departments of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery I, Tohoku University School of Dentistry, 4-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8575, Japan. fkatou@mail.cc.tohoku.ac.jp
Ohtani
H
H
Nakayama
T
T
Ono
K
K
Matsushima
K
K
Saaristo
A
A
Nagura
H
H
Yoshie
O
O
Motegi
K
K
D002449:Cell Aggregation / Q000502:physiology; D054422:Chemokine CCL22; D019742:Chemokines, CC / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D003872:Dermatitis / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008199:Lymphadenitis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009333:Neck; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D054398:Receptors, CCR4; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*
C515482:CCL22 protein, human; C515354:CCR4 protein, human; D054422:Chemokine CCL22; D019742:Chemokines, CC; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D054398:Receptors, CCR4; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine