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γδ T lymphocytes in oriental cutaneous leishmaniasis: occurrence and variable δ gene expression
Author(s) -
ALAIBAC M.,
CHARMS G.,
ZWINGENBKRGER K.,
MORRIS J.,
YU R.,
CHU A.C.
Publication year - 1993
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/j.1365-2133.1993.tb00196.x
Subject(s) - gamma delta t cell , delta , biology , cutaneous leishmaniasis , epidermis (zoology) , cd3 , antigen , t cell receptor , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , t cell , cd8 , leishmaniasis , immune system , anatomy , engineering , aerospace engineering
Summary It has been suggested that T lymphocytes expressing γδ T‐cell receptors could play an important role in defence against some intracellular infectious pathogens. The present study was undertaken to characterize the occurrence and variable δ gene expression of T lymphocytes expressing the γδ T‐cell receptor in oriental cutaneous leishmaniasis. Eleven cases of oriental cutaneous leishmaniasis were investigated by immunohistological analysis using an alkaline phosphatase‐anti‐alkaline phosphatase (APAAP) technique. In three cases, we observed an increased percentage of γδ T cells (about 20% of CD3 + cells). In these cases γδ T cells generally expressed the Vδ2 segment, and only rarely the Vδ1 gene product. Vδ2 + cells were predominantly localized in the dermis, and were virtually absent in the epidermal compartment. The rare γδ T cells observed in the epidermis were almost exclusively Vδ1 + . This study demonstrates that an increase of γδ T cells may be found in oriental cutaneous leishmaniasis, although it is not a constant feature of the disease. The finding of a preferential expansion of the Vδ2 subset suggests that this subpopulation of yδ T cells might be selectively involved in the recognition of Leishmania antigens. The distinct compartmentalization of yδ T‐cell subpopulations indicates that these subsets may recognize distinct sets of antigens.