CD4+CD7- leukemic T cells from patients with Sézary syndrome are protected from galectin-1-triggered T cell death.
In early stages of cutaneous T cell lymphoma (Sézary syndrome) both CD4+CD7- and CD4+CD7+ T cells clonally expand whereas in late stages of the disease CD7- cells are predominant in number, giving rise to the question whether CD7- T cells have a survival advantage in the skin. Galectin-1, a cell-bound lectin, was recently reported to trigger apoptosis in activated CD7+ T cells. Here, we demonstrate that in contrast to activated CD7(+) T cells, quiescent and activated CD69+ CD7- T cells from healthy donors and from Sézary patients are resistant to galectin-1-mediated cell death. CD7- T cells are apoptosis-resistant even during coculture with IFN-gamma-stimulated endothelial cells that constitutively express galectin-1 in high amounts. These data imply that resistance of CD7- T cells to galectin-1-induced apoptosis may contribute to the accumulation of CD7- Sézary T cells during progression of the disease.
Rappl
G
G
Department of Dermatology, The Saarland University Hospital, 66421 Homburg/Saar, Germany.
Abken
H
H
Muche
J M
JM
Sterry
W
W
Tilgen
W
W
André
S
S
Kaltner
H
H
Ugurel
S
S
Gabius
H-J
HJ
Reinhold
U
U
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019011:Antigens, CD7 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000187:drug effects; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005260:Female; D037483:Galectin 1; D006388:Hemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012751:Sezary Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D019011:Antigens, CD7; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D037483:Galectin 1; D006388:Hemagglutinins