title: Alpha1beta1 integrin is crucial for accumulation of epidermal T cells and the development of psoriasis.
abstract: Psoriasis is a common T cell-mediated autoimmune inflammatory disease. We show that blocking the interaction of alpha1beta1 integrin (VLA-1) with collagen prevented accumulation of epidermal T cells and immunopathology of psoriasis. Alpha1beta1 integrin, a major collagen-binding surface receptor, was exclusively expressed by epidermal but not dermal T cells. Alpha1beta1-positive T cells showed characteristic surface markers of effector memory cells and contained high levels of interferon-gamma but not interleukin-4. Blockade of alpha1beta1 inhibited migration of T cells into the epidermis in a clinically relevant xenotransplantation model. This was paralleled by a complete inhibition of psoriasis development, comparable to that caused by tumor necrosis factor-alpha blockers. These results define a crucial role for alpha1beta1 in controlling the accumulation of epidermal type 1 polarized effector memory T cells in a common human immunopathology and provide the basis for new strategies in psoriasis treatment focusing on T cell-extracellular matrix interactions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Zurich, Gloriastrasse 31, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland. curdin.conrad@usz.ch
authors.forename: Curdin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Conrad
authors.forename: Onur
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Boyman
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tonel
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tun-Kyi
authors.forename: Ute
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Laggner
authors.forename: Antonin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Fougerolles
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kotelianski
authors.forename: Humphrey
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gardner
authors.forename: Frank O
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Nestle
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D017353:Gene Deletion; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D039222:Integrin alpha1beta1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000378:metabolism*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D039222:Integrin alpha1beta1