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Cross‐sectional associations between cutaneous viral infections and regulatory T lymphocytes in circulation
Author(s) -
Hampras S.S.,
Tommasino M.,
Zhao Y.,
Messina J.L.,
Giuliano A.R.,
Fenske N.A.,
Cherpelis B.,
Hesterberg R.S.,
Akuffo A.A.,
Amorrortu R.P.,
Balliu J.,
Vijayan L.,
Gheit T.,
EplingBurnette P.K.,
Rollison D.E.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1111/bjd.17429
Subject(s) - immunology , foxp3 , medicine , immune system , odds ratio , antigen , cancer , biology
Summary Background Cutaneous viral infections and immune suppression are risk factors for some forms of nonmelanoma skin cancer; however, their interrelationship is poorly understood. Objectives To examine cross‐sectional associations between cutaneous viral infections and circulating forkhead‐box P3 ( FOXP 3)‐expressing T‐regulatory (Treg) cells, suppressive cells that dampen effective antitumour immunity. Materials and methods Blood, eyebrow hair ( EBH ) and skin swab ( SSW ) samples were collected from 352 patients 60 years and older undergoing skin screening, without prevalent skin cancer, while participating in an ongoing prospective cohort study of cutaneous viral infections and skin cancer. DNA corresponding to 98 cutaneous human papillomavirus ( HPV ) types and five human polyomaviruses ( HP yV) was assessed in EBH and SSW . Distinct classes of circulating Treg‐cell subpopulations were defined by flow cytometry including cutaneous lymphocyte antigen ( CLA ) and CCR 4 high Treg cells, both previously associated with cutaneous diseases. Age‐ and sex‐adjusted associations between circulating T‐cell populations and infection were estimated using logistic regression. Results Total Treg‐cell proportion in peripheral blood was not associated with β HPV or HP yV infection. However, the proportion of circulating CLA + Treg cells was inversely associated with γ HPV EBH infection [odds ratio ( OR ) 0·54, 95% confidence interval ( CI ) 0·35–0·84]. Interestingly, circulating Treg cells expressing markers indicative of antigen activation ( CD 27 – CD 45 RA – FOXP 3 + CD 4 + ) were also inversely associated with γ HPV infection in SSW ( OR 0·55, 95% CI 0·30–0·99) and EBH ( OR 0·56, 95% CI 0·36–0·86). Conclusions Inverse associations between circulating Treg cells and γ HPV infection suggest that localized viral infection may promote immunosuppressive cell migration into skin.