Absence of T(H)2 cytokine messenger RNA expression in CD30-negative primary cutaneous large T-cell lymphomas.
BACKGROUND
Previous studies demonstrating that the neoplastic cells in Sézary syndrome and tumor stage mycosis fungoides express interleukin 4 (IL-4), IL-5, and IL-10 have resulted in the concept that cutaneous T-cell lymphomas are derived from CD4(+) T cells with a T(H)2 type cytokine profile.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the cytokine profile in CD30(-) primary cutaneous large T-cell lymphomas, which represent a subgroup of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma with an aggressive clinical behavior (5-year survival rate of 15%).


METHODS
Seven biopsy specimens were taken from 4 patients with CD30(-) primary cutaneous large T-cell lymphomas and studied for the expression of T(H)1 (IL-2 and interferon gamma) and T(H)2 (IL-4, IL-5, IL-10) cytokines using a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction technique. Skin biopsy specimens from patients with Sézary syndrome, mycosis fungoides, atopic dermatitis, or psoriasis were included as controls.


RESULTS
In the 7 CD30(-) primary cutaneous large T-cell lymphomas showing an almost pure population of large tumor cells (>90%), no expression of IL-4 was found, and IL-5 was only found in 1 of 7 cases. In control biopsy specimens, expression of IL-4 and/or IL-5 was demonstrated in atopic dermatitis (3/3), tumor stage mycosis fungoides (2/2), and Sézary syndrome (3/3), but not in plaque stage mycosis fungoides.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results demonstrate that CD30(-) primary cutaneous large T-cell lymphomas do not produce T(H)2 cytokines, illustrating that not all cutaneous T-cell lymphomas have a T(H)2 cytokine profile.
Vermeer
M H
MH
Department of Dermatology, LUMC, Albinusdreef 2, 2300 RC Leiden, the Netherlands. m.h.vermeer@lumc.nl
Tensen
C P
CP
van der Stoop
P M
PM
van Oostveen
H W
HW
Lund
M
M
Scheper
R J
RJ
Willemze
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D007378:Interleukins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D017730:Ki-1 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism*; D016410:Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009182:Mycosis Fungoides / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D012751:Sezary Syndrome / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
D016207:Cytokines; D007378:Interleukins; D017730:Ki-1 Antigen; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D007371:Interferon-gamma