Up-regulation of ß1 integrin on tonsillar T cells and its induction by in vitro stimulation with α-streptococci in patients with pustulosis Palmaris et Plantaris.
Pustulosis palmaris et plantaris (PPP) is a tonsil-related disease that can be cured with tonsillectomy. Recent immunological studies have shown that hyperactivation of tonsillar T cells is caused by a hyperimmune response to α-streptococci; recruitment of the T cells to lesions may be involved in the pathogenesis of PPP. ß1 integrin, expressed on T cells, not only provides a costimulatory signal for T-cell activation but also facilitates the accumulation of T cells in inflammatory skin lesions. In this study, we found that expression of ß1 integrin on both tonsillar and peripheral blood CD4-positive T cells was higher in PPP patients than in non-PPP patients. In vitro stimulation with α-streptococcal antigen significantly enhanced ß1 integrin expression on tonsillar CD4-positive T cells in PPP patients, but not in non-PPP patients. The chemotactic response of tonsillar CD4-positive T cells to vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, the ß1 integrin ligand, was significantly better in PPP patients than in non-PPP patients. The percentage of ß1 integrin-positive peripheral blood CD4-positive T cells decreased after tonsillectomy in PPP patients. The numbers of ß1 integrin-positive T cells and the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 were more elevated in plantar PPP skin lesions than in normal skin. These results suggest that ß1 integrin may play a key role in the pathogenesis of PPP.
Ueda
Seigo
S
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Asahikawa Medical College, Midorigaoka E2-1-1-1, Asahikawa, Hokkaido 078-8510, Japan.
Takahara
Miki
M
Tohtani
Toshitaka
T
Yoshizaki
Tomoki
T
Kishibe
Kan
K
Harabuchi
Yasuaki
Y
D000328:Adult; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D019012:Integrin beta1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000473:pathology; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000276:immunology*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000276:immunology*; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D019012:Integrin beta1; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; C034866:streptococcal group A mitogen