title: Detection of perforin and granzyme B mRNA expressing cells in lichen sclerosus.
abstract: Granzyme B and perforin messenger RNA (mRNA) expression has been shown to be a specific in vivo activation marker for cytotoxic cells. The aim of this study was to assess the contribution of cell-mediated cytotoxicity in the pathogenesis of lichen sclerosus. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry were performed on serial tissue sections of lesional skin biopsies and normal skin as control. Immunohistochemical staining showed that the cellular infiltrate of diseased skin consisted predominantly of T cells (CD3+) and some B cells (CD20+). Among T cells CD4+ and CD8+ cells were found in about equal numbers. In normal skin samples perforin and granzyme B mRNA expressing cells were only rarely found. In contrast, in biopsies from diseased skin a high percentage of infiltrating cells expressed mRNA for perforin and granzyme B. The perforin and granzyme B expressing cells were found in the dermal infiltrate and intraepidermally in close proximity to keratinocytes suggesting in situ activation of these cells. These findings provide evidence that cell-mediated cytotoxicity plays a significant role in tissue destruction in lichen sclerosus.
authors: Department of Dermatology, University of Bern, Inselspital, 3010 Bern, Switzerland. robert.hunger@insel.ch
authors: Robert E
authors: RE
authors: Hunger
authors: Marcel
authors: M
authors: Brönnimann
authors: Andreas
authors: A
authors: Kappeler
authors: Christoph
authors: C
authors: Mueller
authors: Lasse R
authors: LR
authors: Braathen
authors: Nikhil
authors: N
authors: Yawalkar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D053804:Granzymes / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D018459:Lichen Sclerosus et Atrophicus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D054353:Perforin; D052899:Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D052899:Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D054353:Perforin; C509213:GZMB protein, human; D053804:Granzymes