title: Expression of cutaneous lymphocyte-associated antigen (CLA) in tonsillar T-cells and its induction by in vitro stimulation with alpha-streptococci in patients with pustulosis palmaris et plantaris (PPP).
abstract: Pustulosis palmaris et plantaris (PPP) is known to be a one of the tonsil-related diseases because tonsillectomy is quite effective in curing this condition. However etiological association between tonsils and PPP have not fully clarified yet. Cutaneous lymphocyte-associated antigen (CLA) is known to be a specific homing receptor that facilitates T-cell migration into skin. In this study, we investigated the expression of CLA on T-cells in tonsil, peripheral blood, and skin from patients with PPP. Two-color flow cytometric and two-color immunohistological analyses revealed that the numbers of CLA/CD3 double-positive cells in freshly isolated tonsillar mononuclear cells (TMC) and in tonsillar tissues were significantly higher in patients with PPP than in patients without PPP (P<0.01, each). In vitro stimulus with alpha-streptococcal antigens enhanced CLA expression of tonsillar T-cells and TGF-beta production of TMC in patients with PPP (P<0.01, each), but did not in patients without PPP. In peripheral blood from PPP patients, the number of the CLA/CD3 double-positive cells significantly decreased at 6 months after tonsillectomy (P<0.05). The CLA/CD3 double-positive cells and the postcapillary venule that expressed with a ligand of CLA, E-selectin, were found more frequently in the plantar skin from patients with PPP as compared to that from healthy volunteers (P<0.01, each). These data suggest that a novel immune response to alpha-streptococci may enhance CLA expression on tonsillar T-cells through TGF-beta production in patients with PPP, resulting in moving of CLA-positive tonsillar T-cells to skin and tissue damages. This may play a key role in pathogenesis of PPP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Asahikawa Medical College, Midorigaoka Higashi 2-1-1-1, Asahikawa, Hokkaido 078-8510, Japan. hayabusan4@aol.com
authors.forename: Hayabusa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nozawa
authors.forename: Kan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kishibe
authors.forename: Miki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takahara
authors.forename: Yasuaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Harabuchi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014068:Tonsillectomy
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; C063419:CTAGE1 protein, human; D016207:Cytokines; D019040:E-Selectin; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins