Early T cell activation in the skin from patients with systemic sclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if T cells in skin lesions in systemic sclerosis (SSc) express the early activation antigen CD69 that participates in cell-cell interactions.


METHODS
Skin biopsy specimens from 17 patients with SSc were analysed by immunohistochemistry using the indirect peroxidase method and monoclonal antibodies for CD3 (T cell marker), CD69 (early T cell activation marker), and CD68 (macrophage marker).


RESULTS
Mononuclear cells, containing mostly T cells and macrophages, were increased in SSc skin lesions and were present in perivascular areas. CD69 was expressed in these mononuclear cells. There was no correlation between the number of CD3+, CD69+, or CD68+ cells and the Rodnan skin score or disease duration.


CONCLUSIONS
The expression of early T cell activation antigen CD69 in skin lesions suggests that T cells may actively participate in cell-cell contact with fibroblasts to promote fibrosis.
Kalogerou
A
A
Department of Medicine/Rheumatology, Thessaly University School of Medicine, Larisa, Greece.
Gelou
E
E
Mountantonakis
S
S
Settas
L
L
Zafiriou
E
E
Sakkas
L
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000378:metabolism; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000378:metabolism; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000276:immunology*; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D000099192:CD69 Antigens; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D017252:CD3 Complex; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D000099192:CD69 Antigens; C067980:CD68 antigen, human; D000097382:CD68 Molecule