Comparison of CD163+ CD206+ M2 macrophages in the lesional skin of bullous pemphigoid and pemphigus vulgaris: the possible pathogenesis of bullous pemphigoid.
BACKGROUND
M2 macrophages play a critical role in the induction of T helper 2 (Th2) polarization.


METHODS
To investigate the contribution of M2 macrophages to the pathogenesis of bullous pemphigoid (BP) and pemphigus vulgaris (PV), we employed immunohistochemical staining for CD163 and CD206, as well as pSTAT1, pSTAT6, interleukin (IL)-4, IL-13, CCL17, CCL18 and Foxp3 in the lesional skin of 10 cases of BP and PV.


RESULTS
The numbers of CD163+ CD206+ M2 macrophages were higher in BP than in PV. Moreover, pSTAT6+ cells, CCL17+ cells, CCL18+ cells and Foxp3+ regulatory T cells were prominent only in the lesional skin of BP. To further investigate the function of M2 macrophages, we examined the mRNA expression and production of Th2-related chemokines from M2 macrophages in vitro, which showed a significant increase in the mRNA expression and production of CCL18 when stimulated by IL-4 or IL-13.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study sheds light onto one of the possible immunological mechanisms of BP and PV.
Department of Dermatology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.
Sadanori
S
Furudate
Taku
T
Fujimura
Yumi
Y
Kambayashi
Aya
A
Kakizaki
Setsuya
S
Aiba
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000032:analysis; D001119:Arginase / Q000235:genetics; D002452:Cell Count; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D054414:Chemokine CCL17 / Q000032:analysis; D019742:Chemokines, CC / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D037181:Lectins, C-Type / Q000032:analysis; D008264:Macrophages / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D000090323:Mannose Receptor; D037241:Mannose-Binding Lectins / Q000032:analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D010391:Pemphigoid, Bullous / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010392:Pemphigus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000032:analysis; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor / Q000032:analysis; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000737:chemistry; D000098902:CD163 Antigen
D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; C106230:CCL17 protein, human; C111792:CCL18 protein, human; D000098902:CD163 Antigen; D054414:Chemokine CCL17; D019742:Chemokines, CC; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D018793:Interleukin-13; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D000090323:Mannose Receptor; D037241:Mannose-Binding Lectins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor; C494101:STAT6 protein, human; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4; C574619:ARG1 protein, human; D001119:Arginase