title: Natural killer cells from psoriasis vulgaris patients have reduced levels of cytotoxicity associated degranulation and cytokine production.
abstract: Psoriasis vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory disease of the skin with a strong genetic component and immune system involvement. Although some evidence suggests that Natural Killer (NK) cells may play a part in psoriasis, their role is relatively unstudied and results are controversial. In this current study, NK cells from psoriasis patients exhibited reduced degranulation and produced lower levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ and TNF-α. Further investigation found that NK cells from psoriasis patients and healthy controls expressed similar levels of activation markers, NK cell receptors and apoptosis-inducing molecules. In addition, comparable levels of several cytokines important in NK cell biology were found in the serum of psoriasis patients and healthy controls. Genotyping analysis revealed that HLA-C2, which provides a ligand for killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) expressed by NK cells, was strongly associated with psoriasis susceptibility. However, no link between the KIR genes themselves and disease was found.
authors.affiliation: School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, 152-160 Pearse Street, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Dunphy
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin 4, Ireland.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Sweeney
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin 4, Ireland.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Tallaght Hospital, Dublin 24, Ireland.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Tobin
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin 4, Ireland.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kirby
authors.affiliation: School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, 152-160 Pearse Street, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland. Electronic address: clair.gardiner@tcd.ie.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Gardiner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015550:Cell Degranulation; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D015236:HLA-C Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D054340:Receptors, KIR / Q000235:genetics; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D015236:HLA-C Antigens; D054340:Receptors, KIR
keywords: Killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors; Natural killer cells; Psoriasis