Foxp3+ regulatory T cells and related cytokines differentially expressed in plaque vs. guttate psoriasis vulgaris.
BACKGROUND
Differences in the number of Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) in lesional skin and peripheral blood and their functioning in plaque vs. guttate psoriasis have not been reported.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether there is a differential expression of Foxp3+ Tregs and a differential regulation of inflammatory cytokines in plaque vs. guttate psoriasis vulgaris.


METHODS
The number and the percentage of Foxp3+ cells in different phases of skin lesions of patients with plaque and guttate psoriasis vulgaris were assessed by immunohistochemical staining. The expression of Foxp3 and interleukin (IL)-17 protein in CD4 populations was measured by flow cytometry. Inflammatory cytokine production by transforming growth factor-beta1-induced Foxp3+ Tregs was assessed in an in vitro study. The cytokines in supernatant and serum were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.


RESULTS
The percentage of Foxp3+ CD3+ cells in the papillary layer was higher than in the reticular layer of dermis and in epidermis (P < 0.05). The numbers of Foxp3+ Tregs in skin lesions and peripheral blood were higher in plaque than in guttate psoriasis, whereas the percentage of IL-17+ CD4+ cells was higher in guttate than in plaque psoriasis (P < 0.05). The numbers of Foxp3+ cells were positively correlated with the Psoriasis Severity Index score of skin lesions (P < 0.0001), and the percentages of Foxp3+ CD4+ cells in peripheral blood were positively correlated with the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score of patients (P < 0.05). The inhibitory functions of Tregs to IL-17 and IL-6 in guttate psoriasis and to tumour necrosis factor-alpha in plaque psoriasis were deficient.


CONCLUSIONS
Differential expression and regulatory functioning for inflammatory cytokine production by Foxp3+ Tregs may imply a different immunopathogenesis for plaque and guttate psoriasis.
Yan
K-X
KX
Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 12 Wulumuqi Road (middle), Shanghai 200040, China.
Fang
X
X
Han
L
L
Zhang
Z-H
ZH
Kang
K-F
KF
Zheng
Z-Z
ZZ
Huang
Q
Q
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000378:metabolism*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000276:immunology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D020381:Interleukin-17; D015850:Interleukin-6