title: Expression of chemokine receptor CXCR3 by lymphocytes and plasmacytoid dendritic cells in human psoriatic lesions.
abstract: In psoriasis, leukocytes that infiltrate skin lesions have been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of this disease. Previous investigations reporting the presence of CXCR3(+) T lymphocytes in psoriatic lesional skin have suggested a role of this receptor in the recruitment of T cells into the lesion. The purpose of this study was to quantify the mRNA levels of CXCR3 and to perform a systematic analysis of the cell populations that express CXCR3 in human lesional and non-lesional psoriatic biopsies. We showed by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction that the mRNA levels of CXCR3 and its ligands, CXCL9-11, were significantly elevated in psoriatic lesions, as compared to non-lesional samples. Serial cryostat sections of psoriasis skin biopsies were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. The number of CXCR3(+) cells was low in non-lesional tissues. Quantitative image analysis demonstrated significant increases in the number of both epidermal and dermal CXCR3(+) cells in lesional compared with non-lesional biopsies. The majority of CXCR3(+) cells were located in the dermis of the lesional skin and 74% were demonstrated to be CD3(+) T lymphocytes. A small number of CXCR3(+) cells were CD68(+) myeloid cells. In addition, we found that nearly all BDCA-2(+) plasmacytoid dendritic cells in the psoriatic biopsies were CXCR3(+). These findings support and extend prior reports suggesting the potential role for CXCR3 in the pathophysiology of plaque psoriasis, by mediating the recruitment of plasmacytoid dendritic cells and T cells into the developing lesions.
authors.affiliation: Inflammation/Neurobiology Department, Schering-Plough Research Institute, Schering-Plough Pharmaceutical Inc, K15-2700, 2015 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA. shu-cheng.chen@spcorp.com
authors.forename: Shu-Cheng
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Marjan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Groot
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kinsley
authors.forename: Maureen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laverty
authors.forename: Terrill
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: McClanahan
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arreaza
authors.forename: Eric L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Gustafson
authors.forename: Marcel B M
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Teunissen
authors.forename: Menno A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: de Rie
authors.forename: Jay S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Fine
authors.forename: Maarten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kraan
mesh_terms: D002452:Cell Count; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D054367:Receptors, CXCR3 / Q000032:analysis / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: C515187:CXCR3 protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D054367:Receptors, CXCR3