Identification of a novel CD160+ CD4+ T-lymphocyte subset in the skin: a possible role for CD160 in skin inflammation.
CD160 is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored cell surface molecule expressed by human circulating cytotoxic lymphocytes that correspond to the majority of natural killer cell (NK) expressing CD56(dim), TCRgammadelta lymphocytes, and to a minor CD8 T-cell subset. CD160 engagement by major histocompatibility complex class I molecules triggers by itself both cytotoxic function and cytokine production in NK lymphocytes, whereas it provides co-activating signals to TCR-induced proliferation in T CD8+ lymphocytes. In this study, we analyzed by immunohistochemistry the phenotype of lymphocytes infiltrating normal skin and inflammatory skin lesions of atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, and psoriasis. We identified a minor original subset of CD4+ CD160+ T cells infiltrating inflammatory lesions. We found that this lymphocyte subset localization is not restricted to the skin, as we demonstrated that CD160 transcripts could be induced in IL-2 or IL-15-activated CD4+ peripheral blood lymphocytes. Finally, we report that CD160 acts as a co-activator receptor for CD3-induced proliferation of CD4+ CD160+ T cells isolated from inflammatory skin lesions. Thus, we hypothesize that the unique CD4+ CD160+ lymphocyte subset plays a role in the pathogenesis of skin inflammation.
Abecassis
Sofia
S
INSERM Unit 659, Créteil, France. sofia.abecassis@hmn.aphp.fr
Giustiniani
Jérôme
J
Meyer
Nicolas
N
Schiavon
Valérie
V
Ortonne
Nicolas
N
Campillo
José A
JA
Bagot
Martine
M
Bensussan
Armand
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*
D015703:Antigens, CD; C114505:CD160 protein, human; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic