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Reduction of skin‐homing cytotoxic T cells (CD8 + –CLA + ) in patients with vitiligo
Author(s) -
Antelo Daniela Pereira,
Filgueira Absalom Lima,
Cunha José Marcos Telles
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
photodermatology, photoimmunology and photomedicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.736
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1600-0781
pISSN - 0905-4383
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0781.2010.00563.x
Subject(s) - vitiligo , cytotoxic t cell , cd8 , immunology , medicine , t cell , melanocyte , antigen , biology , immune system , cancer research , melanoma , biochemistry , in vitro
Background: Vitiligo is a frequently acquired, hereditary disease, characterized by achromic macules due to the absence of melanocytes. In contrast with earlier studies, in which the main pathogenic role was attributed to anti‐melanocyte antibodies, recent papers have emphasized a role for CD8 + cytotoxic T lymphocytes in melanocyte destruction. Fifteen percent of peripheral T cell express cutaneous lymphocyte‐associated antigen (CLA), responsible for skin‐homing T cell. Phototherapy is used to treat patients with generalized vitiligo and it has been shown to interfere with CLA + T cells in other skin diseases. Objective: To describe peripheral blood T cell subpopulations' frequency and ability to express the skin‐homing molecule (CLA) in patients with non‐segmental vitiligo, before and after photochemotherapy (PUVA). Patients and Methods: Twenty‐two patients with generalized and active spreading vitiligo were submitted to 30 PUVA‐8MOP sessions. Lymphocyte immunophenotyping was performed by flow cytometry using anti‐CD3, anti‐CD8 and anti‐CLA monoclonal antibodies. Fifteen healthy volunteers, sex‐ and age‐matched, were included as a control group. Results: CD8 + –CLA + T cells were significantly reduced in number in untreated vitiligo patients ( P =0.008) when compared with control individuals, albeit with a more intense CLA expression ( P =0.028). These findings were not altered after PUVA. No significant difference was noticed in CD4/CD8 ratios nor in CD4–CLA + T cell numbers between vitiligo patients and controls, both before and after PUVA. Conclusions: CD8–CLA + T cells are reduced in peripheral blood of patients with non‐segmental vitiligo. This finding may be related to the previously reported increase of CD8 + cells in both lesions and perilesional skin of these patients.