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Epidermal CD8+ T cells reactive with group A streptococcal antigens in chronic plaque psoriasis
Author(s) -
Ovigne J.M.,
Baker B. S.,
Davison S. C.,
Powles A. V.,
Fry L.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
experimental dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.108
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1600-0625
pISSN - 0906-6705
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0625.2002.110410.x
Subject(s) - psoriasis , antigen , cd8 , epidermis (zoology) , t cell , immunology , pathogenesis , cytotoxic t cell , biology , t lymphocyte , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , immune system , in vitro , biochemistry , anatomy
Chronic plaque psoriasis is a T cell mediated disease associated with group A streptococci (GAS). We have previously shown the presence of a psoriasis‐specific dermal Th1 subset that recognizes GAS antigens. To assess whether GAS‐reactive T cells are also present in lesional epidermis, fresh cell suspensions or T cell lines isolated from lesional epidermis of 33 psoriasis patients were stained for intracellular interferon‐γ after stimulation with GAS antigens. The patients were typed by PCR for HLA‐DR7 and HLA‐Cw6 expression. A subset of GAS‐reactive CD8+ T cells (2.4% ± 2.4) was found in 14/21 (67%) fresh cell suspensions. A smaller subset of GAS‐reactive CD4+ T cells (0.9% ± 0.9) was found in 13/21 (62%) fresh cell suspensions, which was expanded in the T cell lines. There was a significant inverse correlation between the proportions of GAS‐reactive CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the fresh suspensions ( r = −0.48, P = 0.0277). The presence of GAS‐reactive CD4+ or CD8+ T cells did not correlate with HLA‐DR7 or HLA‐Cw6 expression, respectively. This study has demonstrated GAS‐reactive CD8+, and to a lesser extent CD4+, T cell subsets in psoriatic epidermis and provides further evidence that GAS antigens may play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic plaque psoriasis.