Heterogeneity of circulating CD4+ memory T-cell subsets in erythrodermic patients: CD27 analysis can help to distinguish cutaneous T-cell lymphomas from inflammatory erythroderma.
BACKGROUND
Chronic dermatoses, as well as Sézary syndrome (SS), the erythrodermic and leukaemic cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, display a T-cell memory pattern. Recent findings suggest that different memory T-cell subsets can be recognized based on CD27 and CD45RO/RA expression. No data are reported as to CD27 expression in SS.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate different memory T-cell subsets, i.e. central memory (TCM), effector memory (TEM) and terminally differentiated cells in SS and inflammatory erythroderma (IE).


METHODS
Forty SS and 137 IE patients were included. CD27 and CD45RO/CD45RA expression was analysed by flow cytometry on peripheral blood lymphocytes and immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
A significantly higher expression of the CD4+CD27+CD45RA- TCM subset was observed in SS whilst IE patients were characterized by increased CD4+CD27-CD45RA- TEM levels. The Vbeta-restricted population was homogeneously CD4+CD26-CD27+ in the SS subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
SS and IE are characterized by a different memory T-cell subset expression; CD27 expression could be used as an additional diagnostic tool in the differential diagnosis.
Fierro
M T
MT
Section of Dermatology, Department of Medical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy. mariateresa.fierro@unito.it
Novelli
M
M
Quaglino
P
P
Comessatti
A
A
Fava
P
P
Ortoncelli
M
M
Ponti
R
R
Bernengo
M G
MG
D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D003873:Dermatitis, Exfoliative / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007156:Immunologic Memory / Q000276:immunology; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000032:analysis; D012016:Reference Values; D012751:Sezary Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018127:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7 / Q000032:analysis*
D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D018127:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens; C516769:PTPRC protein, human