title: Characterization of cytotoxic immune response in skin and mucosal lesions of paracoccidioidomycosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  CD8+ T cells and natural killer (NK) cells are involved in the immune response against some pathogens. For this purpose, we investigated the in situ paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) immune response addressing the participation of NK cells, CD8+ T cells, perforin and granzyme B expression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty biopsies of PCM skin and mucosa were classified according to the presence of compact granulomas (G1), poorly organized granulomas (G2) and both kinds in the same lesion (G3). CD8+ T cells, NK cells, perforin and granzyme B were showed by immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CD8+ T cells were increased over NK cells in cutaneous G1 and G2 lesions. There was no difference regarding such cells in G3 lesions, although they were abundant in such lesions. In mucosa, CD8+ T cells were increased in number over NK cells in all groups. Granzyme B in skin increased in G2 and G3. The number of granzyme did not differ in mucosal lesions in the three groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CD8+ T cells and NK cells play a role in PCM cutaneous and mucosal lesions. The predominance of CD8+ T cells over NK cells may represent an effective response against the fungi. Moreover, the high number of granzyme B expressing cells corroborates this possibility.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of the Discipline of Pathology of Transmissible Diseases, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil. cpagliari@usp.br
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pagliari
authors.forename: Naiura Vieira
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Luciane
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kanashiro
authors.forename: Felipe Weisshaupt
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Stegun
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Croda
authors.forename: Maria Irma Seixas
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.forename: Mirian Nacagami
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Sotto
mesh_terms: D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002452:Cell Count; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000276:immunology*; D053804:Granzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D010229:Paracoccidioidomycosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D054353:Perforin / Q000378:metabolism; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
chemical_list: D054353:Perforin; D053804:Granzymes