title: A possible role for CD8+ T lymphocytes in the cell-mediated pathogenesis of pemphigus vulgaris.
abstract: Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is an autoimmune blistering disease whose pathogenesis involves both humoral and cell-mediated immune response. Though the pathogenetic role of autoantibodies directed against desmoglein 3 is certain, a number of other factors have been suggested to determine acantholysis in PV. In this study we examined the possible role of CD8+ T cells in the development of acantholysis by a passive transfer of PV autoantibodies using CD8 deficient mice, and we also studied the inflammatory infiltrate of PV skin lesions by immunohistochemical staining. The results of the immunohistochemical staining to study the expression of CD3, CD4, and CD8 in PV skin lesions showed that CD4+ are more expressed than CD8+ in the inflammatory infiltrate of PV lesions, confirming the data of the previous literature. The passive transfer study showed a lower incidence of pemphigus in the group of CD8 deficient mice compared to the control one of wild-type mice. These results suggest that CD8+ T cells may play a role in the pathogenesis of PV, perhaps through the Fas/FasL pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Policlinico A. Gemelli Hospital, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo Agostino Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Giurdanella
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Policlinico A. Gemelli Hospital, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo Agostino Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fania
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Policlinico A. Gemelli Hospital, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo Agostino Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gnarra
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University G. D'Annunzio of Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini 5, 66013 Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Toto
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Aging Science, University G. D'Annunzio of Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini 31, 66013 Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Di Rollo
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Princeton University Hospital, 253 Witherspoon Street, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA ; Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Rd., Ottawa, ON, Canada K1H8M5.
authors.forename: Daniel N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Sauder
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Policlinico A. Gemelli Hospital, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo Agostino Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Feliciani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000032:analysis; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010392:Pemphigus / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D017252:CD3 Complex; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G