Expression of dipeptidyl-peptidase IV (CD26) on CD8+ T cells is significantly decreased in patients with psoriasis vulgaris and atopic dermatitis

T cells play a major role in inflammatory skin disorders such as psoriasis vulgaris and atopic dermatitis. They are both active on the level of cell-to-cell interaction and by the secretion of pro-inflammatory mediators. CD26 is a lymphocyte membrane-associated dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV), which is able to inactivate chemokines such as RANTES or eotaxin by cleaving dipeptides from the NH2-terminus of proteins. We investigated the expression of CD26 on CD4+ and CD8+ peripheral blood T cells in patients with psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. In addition PASI and SCORAD as a measure of disease severity were determined in each patient at the time of blood drawing. Thirty patients with psoriasis, 15 with atopic dermatitis and 17 age- and sex-matched healthy persons were investigated by two-colour flow cytometry using epitope-specific monoclonal antibodies. Our results revealed, that there is a significant decrease (P<0.05) of CD26 expression on CD8+ T cells in both psoriasis (7.7%+/-3.3, mean and SD, n=30) and atopic dermatitis patients (7.9%+/-3.7, mean and SD, n=15) compared to the control population (11.58%+/-5.0, mean and SD, n=17). However, there was no correlation to disease severity as determined by PASI and SCORAD, respectively. Since CD26 can be regarded as an anti-inflammatory principle the decreased expression in psoriasis and atopic dermatitis patients may lead to a dysbalance in favour of pro-inflammatory mediators in both clinical conditions.     

火针联合卤米松乳膏治疗稳定期白癜风患者的疗效观察及对CD4+、CD8+、CD4+/CD8+水平的影响

 目的 观察火针联合卤米松乳膏治疗稳定期白癜风的临床疗效,检测对患者CD4⁺、CD8⁺及CD4⁺/CD8⁺水平的影响。方法 选择我院皮肤科及中医科门诊自2018年1月—2019年12月诊治的60例稳定期白癜风患者作为研究对象,随机分成对照组 (30例) 和试验组(30例),对照组采用卤米松乳膏治疗,试验组予以火针联合卤米松乳膏治疗,比较两组患者治疗前后的白癜风面积评分指数(VASI),观察总有效率以及不良反应发生率。同时检测患者治疗前后CD4⁺、CD8⁺及 CD4⁺/CD8⁺的表达水平。结果两 组患者治疗前的VASI对比无显著差异(P＞0.05)。治疗后,试验组VASI明显低于对照组(9.73±0.56比10.79±1.13,t=4.60,P＜0.05）,总有效率明显高于对照组(86.67%比63.33%,X²=4.36,P=0.037）。两组治疗后CD3⁺、CD4⁺、CD4⁺/CD8⁺均高于治疗前,试验组治疗后CD3+为(69.23±5.27)%,CD4⁺ 为(44.03±3.94)%,CD4⁺/CD8⁺比值为 (2.54±0.99),对照组治疗后CD3⁺为(66.60±7.56)%,CD4⁺为(38.13±6.51)%, CD4⁺/CD8⁺比值为(1.91±0.87),试验组各指标均高于对照组（均P＜0.05）;治疗后试验组CD8⁺为(19.30±5.55)%,低于对照组的(23.20±8.36)%,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。结论 火针联合卤米松乳膏治疗不仅能有效促进稳定期白癜风患者皮肤恢复正常肤色,提高有效率,且能调节患者T淋巴细胞亚群,提高患者细胞免疫功能。因此火针是一种安全、高效的治疗方法,值得临床推广。     

Persistent CMV infection correlates with disease activity and dominates the phenotype of peripheral CD8+ T cells in psoriasis

Background: Previously, we have reported a frequent association of active plaque psoriasis with inflammation‐mediated cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation. Objectives: This study aimed at characterizing the impact of CMV infection on psoriasis disease activity and peripheral cellular adaptive immune response. Patients/Methods: Twenty nine patients with active plaque psoriasis and 29 healthy controls were analysed for CMV‐serostatus, CMV‐antigenaemia, frequencies of peripheral CMV‐specific T cells and the immunophenotype of peripheral CD8+ T cells. Results: (i) Psoriasis severity was higher in CMV‐seropositive patients and positively correlated to the severity of CMV‐antigenaemia. (ii) In comparison to CMV‐seropositive healthy controls, CMV‐seropositive psoriasis patients showed a reduced frequency of circulating CMV‐specific T cells that increased under effective antipsoriatic therapy. (iii) The immunophenotype of peripheral CD8+ T cells was dominated by CMV‐seroprevalence. (iv) Selective analysis of CMV‐seronegative psoriasis patients revealed a strong expansion of a – probably early activated – CD8+ T‐cell population with the yet undescribed differentiation phenotype ‘CD45RA‐dim/CD11a‐dim’. Under effective antipsoriatic therapy this population decreased in parallel to an increase of effector differentiated CD8+ T cells. Conclusions: Taken together with our previous results of inflammation‐mediated CMV reactivation in psoriasis, our data support the concept of an interactive relationship between psoriasis and CMV infection which may be mediated by peripheral CD8+ T cells.     

Functional characterization of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells differentiated in vitro from bone marrow-derived haematopoietic cells of psoriasis patients with a family history of the disorder

BACKGROUND: In psoriasis CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells are functionally deficient. The imbalance between regulatory and effector T-cell functions is important for inducing psoriasis. It is reasonable to speculate that the dysfunctional activity of CD4+CD25+ regulatory cells may originate partly from the abnormal haematopoietic cells determined mainly by genetic background. OBJECTIVES: To test the hypothesis that haematopoietic stem cells are responsible for dysfunctional CD4+CD25+ regulatory cells in psoriasis. METHODS: Bone marrow-derived CD34+ haematopoietic cells from patients with psoriasis (with a family history of psoriasis) and from normal controls were differentiated into T cells in vitro. CD4+CD25+ T cells were isolated by an immunomagnetic bead method, and proliferation activity and capacity for cytokine secretion were determined. Furthermore, the ability of CD4+CD25+ T cells to suppress the proliferative responses of allogeneous peripheral blood CD4+CD25- effector T cells was assessed in vitro. RESULTS: The differentiated CD4+CD25+ T cells of psoriatic origin showed similar characteristics to those of normal volunteers, including proliferation activity and secretion profile of the cytokines interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-8, IL-10 and interferon (IFN)-gamma. However, proliferation and secretion levels of the cytokines IL-2 and IL-10 for CD4+CD25+ cells of psoriatic CD34+ cell origin were significantly lower than those of normal controls in response to streptococcal superantigen (Strep-A). In particular, CD4+CD25+ T cells differentiated from psoriatic CD34+ cells were functionally insufficient to restrain effector T-cell proliferation. CONCLUSIONS: CD4+CD25+ T cells differentiated in vitro from haematopoietic cells of patients with psoriasis are impaired in regulatory function. The dysfunction of psoriatic CD4+CD25+ T cells may be due to inherent genetic programming passed down from bone marrow-derived haematopoietic cells.     

Epidermal CD8+ T cells in chronic plaque psoriasis are Tc1 cells producing heterogeneous levels of interferon-gamma

The majority of epidermal CD8+ T cells in chronic plaque psoriasis are activated Tc1 cells producing interferon-gamma and no interleukin-4, a small proportion of which express NK-T receptors. To quantitate their level of cytokine production and characterize them further, CD8+ T cells were isolated from epidermal cell suspensions of lesional biopsies from 24 patients with chronic plaque psoriasis. T-cell lines (TCL) were established by culture of CD8+ T cells with feeders and IL-2 for 11 days and expansion with PHA. Ten TCL were stained for surface markers; 6 were cloned with PHA by limiting dilution. Interferon-gamma, interleukin-4 and interleukin-10 production was measured by ELISA after PMA/anti-CD3 activation of 15 TCL and 39 CD8+ T-cell clones. The 10 TCL stained were CD8alphabeta+ (93.3%), T-cell receptor-alphabeta+ (99.5%), costimulatory molecule CD28+ (90.1%), with a small CD8alphaalpha+ population (2.3%). No NK-T-cell receptor CD158a or CD158b expression was detected, whilst CD94 was expressed on 6.2% of cells in 6/9 TCL. All the TCL and 37/39 CD8+ T-cell clones produced interferon-gamma but no or minimal interleukin-4 or interleukin-10. The TCL produced a wide range of interferon-gamma levels (138 to 15,020 pg/ml). Clones from 3 patients showed low levels (60 to 1,410 pg/ml), from 2 patients high levels (6,105 to 43,040 pg/ml) and from 1 patient a wide range (405 to 36,010 pg/ml) of interferon-gamma production. Thus epidermal CD8+ Tc1 cells in chronic plaque psoriasis produce highly heterogeneous levels of interferon-gamma, which may reflect clinical diversity.     

Increased frequency of intracellular interleukin (IL)-13 and IL-10, but not IL-4, expressing CD4+ and CD8+ peripheral T cells of patients with atopic dermatitis

BACKGROUND: A number of studies exist demonstrating the increased expression of type 2 cytokines and decreased capacity to produce interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). OBJECTIVES: To clarify the results of recent studies concerning the role of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13 in PBMCs of AD patients, we analysed the activation status of lymphocyte subpopulations. METHODS: We measured the intracellular expression and serum levels of certain type 1 and type 2 cytokines, using cell surface and intracellular cytokine staining, flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay techniques. RESULTS: The frequency of IL-10 and IL-13 producing CD4+ and CD8+ T cells was significantly higher in patients with AD, while the frequency of IFN-gamma secreting helper and cytotoxic T cells was significantly lower in patients with AD than in control subjects. The serum levels of IL-10 and IL-13 were also significantly increased. There were no significant differences observed between the experimental groups in the frequency of IL-4 producing CD4+ and CD8+ cells. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates a type 2 cytokine production in the CD4+ and CD8+ T cells of AD patients, which is characterized by an elevated IL-13, but not by IL-4 secretion, and by an increased level of the immunoregulatory IL-10, which can contribute to a decrease in IFN-gamma expression.     

PI3K和Notch信号途径对寻常型银屑病患者外周血CD4+T细胞的增殖和活化发挥协同调控作用

 

目的 研究PI3K和Notch信号途径在寻常型银屑病患者外周静脉血CD4⁺ T细胞增殖、活化中的影响。方法 采集28例寻常型银屑病患者和28例健康对照外周静脉血,采用免疫磁珠法分选外周血CD4⁺ T细胞。将寻常型银屑病患者外周血CD4⁺ T细胞分为4组：空白对照组,10 μmol/L PI3K阻滞剂组（LY294002组）,25 μmol/L Notch阻滞剂组（DAPT组）,10 μmol/L LY294002+25 μmol/L DAPT组（LY294002+DAPT组）。均分别用植物血凝素（PHA）10 μg/mL和IL-2 1 000 U/mL刺激增殖6 h,采用FCM检测CD4⁺ T细胞内的CyclinA、Cyclin D1及P27^kipl细胞周期蛋白水平,逆转录-聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）检测Cyclin A、Cyclin D1及P27^kipl mRNA水平,并对数据进行统计学处理。结果 CD4⁺ T细胞经免疫磁珠法分选后纯度为（90.00±3.90）％,CD4⁺ T细胞培养存活百分率达（92.50±4.60）％。寻常型银屑病患者外周血CD4⁺ T细胞Cyclin A、Cyclin D1水平分别为（27.60±3.80）％、（14.70±3.20）％,mRNA水平分别为0.56±0.14、1.37±0.39,与健康对照组（13.50±3.70）％、（7.80±2.00）％和（0.31±0.12）、（0.93±0.35）比较均明显升高,差异有统计学意义（P分别为0.002、0.037和0.008、0.043）。寻常型银屑病患者外周血CD4⁺ T细胞P27^kipl蛋白和mRNA分别为（23.50±3.60）％和（0.17±0.02）,均低于健康对照组的（36.80±5.60）％和（0.33±0.05）,差异有统计学意义（P分别为0.007、0.001）。与空白对照组CD4⁺ T细胞Cyclin D1蛋白和mRNA表达［分别为（12.30±3.50）％和（1.74±0..39）］比较,LY294002组、DAPT组、LY294002+DAPT组表达均下降,分别为（7.20±3.10）％、（8.20±2.50）％、（4.30±1.50）％和（1.11±0.29）、（1.26±0.28）、（0.63±0.20）,差异均有统计学意义（均P<0.05）。与空白对照组CD4⁺ T细胞P27^kipl蛋白［（21.80±3.20）％］比较,LY294002组、DAPT组、LY294002+DAPT组蛋白水平均升高,分别为（30.90±5.10）％、（27.60±5.20）％、（43.90±3.00）％,差异均有统计学意义（P分别为0.005、0.006、0.001）;与空白对照组CD4⁺ T细胞P27^kipl mRNA（0.15±0.08）比较,LY294002组、DAPT组、LY294002+DAPT组水平均上升,分别为（0.37±0.07）、（0.62±0.09）、（0.99±0.21）,差异均有统计学意义（P分别为0.018、0.002、0.003）。空白对照组、LY294002组、DAPT组、LY294002+DAPT组组间CD4⁺ T细胞Cyclin A蛋白和mRNA表达无显著性差异（均P>0.05）。结论 PI3K与Notch信号途径可协同增强CD4⁺ T细胞内正向调节蛋白Cyclin D1水平升高及负向调节蛋白P27^kipl水平下降,提示PI3K和Notch信号途径对寻常型银屑病患者外周血CD4⁺ T细胞的增殖、活化起着协同调控作用。

     

Caspase抑制剂对特应性皮炎患者外周血CD4+T细胞亚群分泌细胞因子的影响

目的：明确广谱半胱氨酸天冬氨酸蛋白酶(caspase)抑制剂对特应性皮炎(AD)患者外周血CD4+T细胞亚群分泌细胞因子的影响。方法：广谱caspase抑制剂Z-VAD-FMK与30例AD患者外周血单一核细胞(PBMCs)体外共培养后,PBMCs分为3组,分别加入Z-VAD-FMK溶液、地塞米松溶液和PBS溶液。流式细胞仪检测CD4+T细胞亚群;ELISA方法检测上清液中IFN-γ、IL-4、IL-17的浓度。结果：IFN-γ、IL-4、IL-17水平在PBS溶液组高于Z-VAD-FMK组,差异均有统计学意义(均P<0.01),在Z-VAD-FMK组与地塞米松组间比较,均无统计学意义(均P>0.05)。结论：广谱caspase抑制剂Z-VAD-FMK可抑制AD患者PBMC中CD4+T细胞Th1、Th2、Th17分泌相关细胞因子。     

梅毒患者外周血CD4~+、CD8~+调节性T细胞表达的临床意义

目的:监测梅毒患者外周血CD4~+、CD8~+调节性T细胞的表达水平,考察其在临床的参考价值。方法:将2014年12月至2015年9月,我院收治并确诊的32例梅毒患者作为研究对象。其中,Ⅰ期、Ⅱ期、潜伏期梅毒患者分别有11例、15例和6例。采用细胞免疫芯片检测(淋巴细胞CD4~+、CD8~+绝对数检测)技术检测并计算患者外周血中的调节性T细胞CD4~+、CD8~+表达水平及CD4~+、CD8~+的比值。并与同期就诊我科的30例非梅毒患者的相应指标数据进行比较。结果:与非梅毒患者比较,梅毒患者外周血中CD4~+、CD8~+细胞绝对值计数均显著下降(P0.05);CD4~+、CD8~+比值显著低于非梅毒患者组(P0.05)。在Ⅰ期、Ⅱ期、潜伏期梅毒患者间CD4~+、CD8~+绝对值计数均值水平的差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:在梅毒患者外周血中CD4~+、CD8~+表达水平及CD4~+、CD8~+比值均显著降低,而在梅毒感染的不同疾病发展时期CD4~+、CD8~+表达水平也有着显著的差异。     

Antitumour necrosis factor-alpha chimeric antibody (infliximab) inhibits activation of skin-homing CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes and impairs dendritic cell function

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by hyperproliferation and altered differentiation of keratinocytes in reply to cytokines such as interferon (IFN)-gamma and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, provided by infiltrating CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and natural killer cells. Infliximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody that neutralizes both soluble and membrane-bound TNF-alpha, and that may give a long-term disease remission. OBJECTIVES: To determine the in vitro effects of infliximab on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells derived from lesional skin, and on dendritic cells (DCs). METHODS: Psoriatic T-cell lines were isolated from lesional skin of four patients with psoriasis and assayed for their proliferation, cytokine release and susceptibility to apoptotic stimuli in the presence of graded (1-100 microg mL(-1)) concentrations of infliximab. DCs were differentiated in the presence of infliximab from peripheral blood monocytes. Phenotype was assessed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting and antigen-presenting capacity in functional assays. RESULTS: In vitro activation of psoriatic as well as antigen (nickel)-specific skin-homing T cells was strongly and dose-dependently impaired by infliximab, in terms both of proliferation and of IFN-gamma release. Despite the significant reduction of IFN-gamma secretion, infliximab only marginally affected the release of interleukin (IL)-10 by skin T cells, thus determining a reduction of the IFN-gamma/IL-10 ratio at the site of inflammation. The effects were maximal when T-cell activation occurred in the absence of costimulation, or when T cells were activated by immature compared with mature DCs. In addition, skin-homing CD8+ T cells were more prominently affected by infliximab compared with CD4+ T lymphocytes, both in terms of inhibition of activation and in their susceptibility to apoptosis. Finally, infliximab directly affected the differentiation of monocyte-derived DCs, by inhibiting the expression of CD1a and CD86, and strongly impaired the antigen-presenting capacity of immature and, to a lesser extent, mature DCs. CONCLUSIONS: Infliximab directly affects psoriatic T cells and impairs the antigen-presenting capacity of DCs. These effects may help to explain the long-term disease remission obtained with the drug.     

Decreased suppression of CD8+ and CD4+ T cells by peripheral regulatory T cells in generalized vitiligo due to reduced NFATC1 and FOXP3 proteins

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are involved in the suppression of activated T cells in generalized vitiligo (GV). The study was aimed to investigate Tregs functional defects in Treg:CD8⁺ and Treg:CD4⁺ T cells' co-culture systems of 55 GV patients and 45 controls. CD8⁺ and CD4⁺ T-cell proliferation was assessed by BrdU assay; production of IL-10, TGF-β and IFN-γ cytokines was assessed by ELISA; and FOXP3, CD25, NFATC1 and CD44 proteins were measured by flow cytometry. Generalized vitiligo patients showed reduced suppression of CD8⁺ and CD4⁺ T cells (P = .0384, P = .0084), increased IFN-γ (P < .0001, P = .0019), decreased IL-10 and TGF-β (P < .0001) and decreased FOXP3, CD25 and NFATC1 proteins (P < .0001). Active vitiligo (AV) patients showed reduced suppression of CD8⁺ & CD4⁺ T cells (P = .006, P = .015), increased IFN-γ (P = .036, P = .045), decreased IL-10 (P = .009, P = .021), FOXP3 (P = .0244) and NFATC1 (P = .019). Severe GV (50%-75% VASI) patients showed reduced suppression of CD8⁺ and CD4⁺ T cells (P = .0003, P = .001), increased IFN-γ (P = .0029, P < .0001), decreased IL-10 (P = .0057, P = .0017), FOXP3 (P = .002) and NFATC1 (P = .0347). VASI score was positively correlated with the suppression of CD8⁺ and CD4⁺ T cells (P = .0006, P < .0001), IL-10 (P = .0096, P = .029), FOXP3 (P = .0008) and NFATC1 (P = .043), whereas it was negatively correlated with IFN-γ (P = .0029, P = .0017). Early age of onset patients' Tregs demonstrated decreased suppression of CD8⁺ and CD4⁺ T cells (P = .0156, P = .0074), decreased TGF-β (P = .0212, P = .0083) and NFATC1 (P = .0103). NFATC1 was positively correlated with FOXP3 in Tregs (P < .0001). Our results suggest impaired Tregs suppressive function in GV patients due to decreased NFATC1, FOXP3, CD25, IL-10 and TGF-β resulting into increased CD8⁺ and CD4⁺ T-cell proliferation and IFN-γ production. For the first time, decreased NFATC1 levels were correlated with decreased FOXP3, thereby altering Treg cell function in GV patients. Additionally, decreased Treg cell function also affected onset, activity and severity of GV.     

CD8~+T细胞对白癜风患者黑素细胞的杀伤机制

目的:明确CD8~+T细胞对白癜风患者黑素细胞的杀伤机制。方法:分选白癜风患者及正常人外周血CD8~+T细胞,分别与原代黑素细胞及永生化正常黑素细胞系PIG1及永生化白癜风黑素细胞系PIG3V建立共孵育杀伤模型,采用流式细胞术检测靶细胞被杀伤情况,酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)检测杀伤环境中IFN-γ、TNF-α、颗粒酶B及穿孔素的分泌水平。结果:白癜风患者外周血CD8~+T细胞杀伤原代黑素细胞及PIG3V能力,分泌IFN-γ、颗粒酶B及穿孔素水平均高于健康对照,而杀伤PIG1能力和TNF-α水平并无显著差异;白癜风患者CD8~+T细胞IFN-γ分泌水平与细胞杀伤率呈明显正相关。结论:白癜风患者CD8~+T细胞杀伤黑素细胞是白癜风发病的重要机制,且该杀伤作用可能依赖IFN-γ、颗粒酶B及穿孔素分泌水平的上调。     

斑秃患者外周血T淋巴细胞亚群及CD4~+CD25~+调节T细胞的检测

目的检测斑秃(AA)患者外周血T淋巴细胞亚群及CD4+CD25+调节性T(Tr)细胞数量变化,分析AA的可能病因。方法利用流式细胞仪和单克隆荧光抗体技术,测定重度和局限性AA各40例患者外周血中T淋巴细胞亚群占T淋巴细胞的比率及CD4+CD25+Tr细胞在CD3+CD4+T淋巴细胞中的比率。结果重度AA患者外周血中CD4+CD25+Tr细胞占CD3+CD4+T细胞的比率为(1.43±0.74)%,显著低于正常对照组(2.25±0.97)%(P<0.01),重度AA患者的CD4+T占T淋巴细胞的比率为(31.42±6.66)%,略高于正常对照组(30.69±7.47)%(P>0.05),差异无显著性,而CD8+T占T淋巴细胞的比率为(25.86±4.35)%,明显高于正常对照组(22.42±6.10)%(P<0.01);局限性AA患者的三项指标分别为(2.14±0.87)%,(32.60±10.27)%和(21.59±5.24)%,与对照组差异无显著性(P>0.05)。结论AA患者外周血中CD4+CD25+Tr明显低于正常对照组,CD8+T比率明显高于正常对照组,可能是导致重度AA发病的主要免疫机制。     

Circulating CD8+ lymphocytes, white blood cells, and survival in patients with mycosis fungoides

BACKGROUND: There is a need for reliable, easily measurable laboratory markers that may help dermatologists to predict the course of mycosis fungoides (MF) when they first evaluate their patients. OBJECTIVES: Our objective was to identify clinical, haematological or immunological parameters as predictors of mortality in patients with MF. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study on a prevalent cohort of 124 patients with MF hospitalized at IDI-IRCCS, Rome, Italy, from 1983 to 2001. We calculated the proportion of patients surviving (Kaplan-Meier product-limit estimates) 5 and 10 years after first hospital admission, and hazard ratios (HR) from the Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: Patients' survival was linked to age and staging (lower survival in older patients and in patients with staging IIB-IV). Higher numbers of white blood cells (WBC) and neutrophils, lower numbers of CD8+ lymphocytes, low haematocrit and lower levels of albumin were significantly associated with a lower survival probability. When simultaneously accounting for age and staging, CD8+ [HR = 3.02, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-9.07 for CD8+ < 250 vs. > or = 600 cells microL(-1)] and WBC (HR = 2.59, 95% CI 0.96-6.96 for WBC > or = 9000 vs. < 6000 cells microL(-1)) were associated with survival. In addition, we observed an exceedingly high risk of death (HR = 12.40, 95% CI 3.11-49.43) for patients with a combination of WBC > or = 9000 and CD8+ < 600 cells microL(-1) vs. WBC < 9000 and CD8+ > or = 600 cells microL(-1)). CONCLUSIONS: The measurement of CD8+ cells and WBC in MF seems to be a promising criterion to predict survival, and possibly to support treatment decisions and inclusion of patients in randomized controlled trials.     

Candida albicans-specific lymphoproliferative and cytokine (IL-4 and IFN-gamma) responses in atopic eczema dermatitis syndrome. Evidence of CD4/CD8 and CD3/CD16+CD56 ratio elevations in vitro

BACKGROUND: Hypersensitivity to cross-reactive mannan polysaccharide allergens of saprophytic yeasts is likely to be involved in the pathogenesis of atopic eczema dermatitis syndrome (AEDS). Mannans induce elevated specific immunoglobulin E and lymphoproliferative responses in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). To gain more detailed data of the involvement of different subpopulations of PBMCs in AEDS after mannan stimulation, changes in the cell-surface marker distribution were analysed. METHODS: The Ficoll-isolated PBMCs of eight yeast hypersensitive AEDS patients and seven non-AEDS controls were stimulated in vitro by mannan (CAM) or whole extract antigen [In-House Reference (IHR)] of Candida albicans or tuberculin [purified protein derivative (PPD)] and after immunofluorescence staining analysed by flow cytometry. The expression of cytokine mRNA was measured by kinetic real-time polymerase chain reaction (TaqMan). RESULTS: After 7-day antigen stimulation, there were significant increases in the CD3/CD16(+)CD56 ratio (P = 0.028 with mannan and P = 0.006 with IHR), CD4/CD8 ratio (P = 0.049 with mannan) and interleukin-4/interferon-gamma (IL-4/IFN-gamma) mRNA ratio (P = 0.028 with IHR) and a decrease in the CD3/CD19 ratio (P = 0.035 with mannan) of AEDS patients' PBMCs as compared with healthy controls' cells. These changes were not seen in cultures with PPD. CONCLUSIONS: The observed CAM and IHR-induced elevations in T cell/natural killer cell, CD4/CD8 and IL-4/IFN-gamma ratios suggest that C. albicans-induced TH(2)-type responses can also play a role in AEDS.     

Erythema multiforme‐like lesions in primary cutaneous aggressive cytotoxic epidermotropic CD8+ T‐cell lymphoma: A diagnostic and therapeutic challenge

Primary cutaneous aggressive cytotoxic epidermotropic CD8+ T‐cell lymphoma is an extremely rare, rapidly progressing, cutaneous lymphoma, with frequent systemic involvement and poor prognosis, that still represents a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge, especially in the early stage. Herein, we report a case of an elderly woman with a fulminant course, who at onset presented with clinical and pathological features mimicking erythema multiforme (EM) and treated with cyclosporine that led to rapid deterioration with fatal outcome 6 months after disease onset. Histopathology showed a lichenoid, epidermotropic and nodular, angiocentric, dermal and subcutaneous infiltrate of sF1, CD8+, CD45RA+ small to medium‐sized atypical lymphoid cells, which strongly expressed cytotoxic markers. Monoclonal T‐cell‐γ receptor was clonally rearranged and array‐CGH showed numerous chromosomal imbalances. This case evidences the clinical, pathological and therapeutic challenges involved in this tumor. The first biopsy showed an interface dermatitis‐like pattern, revealing the deceptive features that early cutaneous infiltrates of this aggressive lymphoma may have. A high suspicion for aggressive CTCL and a low threshold for repeat biopsies should be maintained when faced with rapidly progressing and/or ulcerative EM‐like lesions, especially if immunomodulatory therapy is being considered.     

In vivo dynamics of intraepidermal CD8+ T cells and CD4+ T cells during the evolution of fixed drug eruption

Background Although a severe form of fixed drug eruption (FDE) clinically and histologically mimics toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), subsequent evolution of the two conditions is quite different. It remains unknown, however, which factors determine whether these lesions resolve spontaneously or subsequently progress to TEN. Objectives Because epidermal injury in TEN can be locally reproduced in the evolving FDE lesions, we sought to investigate how epidermal damage can be induced in the evolving FDE lesions and how disease progression to TEN can be prevented, by analysing the FDE lesions induced by clinical challenge with the causative drug. Methods We immunohistochemically investigated in vivo dynamics of T‐cell trafficking and activation that occur in the evolving FDE lesions using sequential biopsy specimens obtained at multiple time points from the FDE lesions. Results Intraepidermal CD8+ T cells, which are resident in the lesional epidermis as a stable homogeneous population of memory T cells, transiently acquire a natural killer‐like phenotype and express cytotoxic granules upon activation. The influx into the epidermis of CD4+ T cells including Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) during the evolution serves to ameliorate epidermal damage induced by activation of the intraepidermal CD8+ T cells. Interleukin‐15 derived from the lesional epidermis could maintain the survival of the intraepidermal CD8+ T cells even in the absence of antigenic stimulus over a prolonged period of time (> 4 years). Conclusions Whether Tregs could migrate to the lesions upon activation of intraepidermal CD8+ T cells would determine whether the inflammation becomes resolved spontaneously or progresses to TEN.