Distribution of natural killer cells and lymphocyte subclasses in Jessner's lymphocytic infiltration of the skin and in cutaneous lesions of discoid and systemic lupus erythematosus

We studied the cell infiltrates in biopsies from lymphocytic infiltration of the skin (LIS), with six monoclonal T cell antigen-specific antibodies and compared the reactivity pattern with those in biopsies from discoid and systemic lupus erythematosus skin lesions and allergic contact skin reactions. A newly described antibody (NK₉) recognizing natural killer (NK) cells and activated cytotoxic T lymphocytes was included, and the numbers and activity of circulating NK cells was determined. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that the numbers of NK₉-positive cells were highest in LIS. The distribution of T lymphocytes (OKTii + ve), helper T cells (OKT₄+ ve), suppressor T celts (OKT8 + ve), Langerhans cells (OKT6 + ve) and activated T cells (anti-Tac + ve) in LIS differed from those in DLE, SLE and allergic contact reactions. However, the number of circulating NK cells (large granular lymphocytes) and the NK activity in peripheral blood were normal in LIS. We conclude that in LIS a distinct type of T cell activation occurs; the cause of this remains to be determined.     

Effect of the Hewitt keratinizing epidermal carcinoma on cell proliferation in different organs of the host mouse and in human psoriatic skin cultured in diffusion chambers

Incorporation of 3H-thymidine into different squamous epithelia and other tissues was studied in mice bearing the Hewitt keratinizing epidermal carcinoma with a raised epidermal chalone content in the body. The results showed that DNA synthesis in the tumour-bearing mice was inhibited strongly in the epithelium of the ear (c.80%), moderately in the epithelium of the back skin and the foot (c.55%), and weakly in the epithelium of the tongue and the cornea (c.25%). These inhibitions appear to be specific in nature, because cell proliferation was not detectably affected in the sebaceous gland, intestinal epithelium, bone marrow, and thymus lymphocytes. Thymus size, however, was reduced in the tumour-bearing mice compared with controls, and 3H-thymidine uptake was depressed in the spleen and to some extent also in the lymph nodes, possibly owing to non-specific stress. Labelling index of human psoriatic epidermis was suppressed in diffusion-chamber cultures carried by the tumour-bearing host mice compared with controls. However, this reaction was probably not specific in nature, because the labelling index of mouse bone-marrow cells was also decreased when grown in tumour-bearing animals.     

Expression of differentiation antigens in mammary and extramammary Paget''s disease

Seven cases of mammary and twelve cases of extramammary Paget's disease were studied for the presence of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and apocrine epithelial antigen (AEA) using the immunoperoxidase technique. CEA was found in the Paget cells in five out of seven mammary and in all twelve cases of extramammary Paget's disease, whereas the AEA reaction was positive in six mammary and all extramammary cases. The same antigens were also found in the cells of intraductal or ductal adenocarcinomas of the breast associated with mammary Paget's disease, suggesting a common origin for the cells. In the cases of extramammary Paget's disease studied no underlying malignant neoplasms could be detected. Our findings support the suggestion that Paget cells originate in sweat gland ducts and undergo an apocrine differentiation.     

Fetal heart rate patterns and perinatal outcome of very-low-birthweight infants

Summary. The obstetric records of 125 infants weighing 500–1250 g who were born in 1978 and 1979 at the Helsinki University Central Hospital were studied retrospectively to find out any associations between fetal heart rate (FHR) patterns and perinatal outcome. FHR recordings of 79 fetuses were available for study. Normal reactive patterns were observed in nine, nonreactive in 54, decelerations in 58, silent patterns in 45 and combined distress patterns in 36 fetuses. The interval from the first pathological sign to delivery was up to 27 days. Five fetuses in the monitored group died in utero , 26 infants died neonatally and two later. The risk of neonatal death after pathological FHR patterns was lower than after an FHR pattern without abnormality. Idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) was diagnosed in 32 infants, of whom 16 died. Forty-seven fetuses (59%) of the monitored group were delivered abdominally and 32 vaginally. The risk of RDS was not significantly associated with FHR patterns and mode of delivery. We conclude that unlike term fetuses, low-birthweight fetuses seem to benefit from a period of intrauterine stress reflected in abnormal FHR patterns, if caesarean section is used liberally.     

Altered binding of Ulex europaeus I lectin to psoriatic epidermis

We have used Ulex europaeus I (UEA I) lectin, specific for α-l -fucose-containing glycoconjugates, in fluorescence microscopy to stain cryostat sections of human skin from normal persons and patients with psoriasis and lichen simplex. In normal skin the upper layers of the stratum spinosum and the stratum granulosum were strongly reactive with UEA I, whereas the lower layers of the epidermis did not react. The staining intensity of the upper epidermis was similar to that of the endothelium of dermal blood vessels. Biopsies of the lesional skin of lichen simplex showed an intense UEA I-specific staining throughout the whole epidermis, similar in intensity to that seen in the upper epidermis of normal skin. In psoriatic lesions positive UEA I-specific fluorescence was seen throughout the whole epidermis, but the fluorescence was more faint and often granular. In uninvolved skin of psoriatic patients the whole epidermis showed a diffuse UEA I-specific fluorescence, differing in this respect from normal skin. In normal skin UEA I binds to epidermal cells which are at a certain state of differentiation. The results with psoriatic epidermis confirm that both uninvolved and lesional epidermis have a defect in epidermal maturation, as shown by the altered binding of UEA I lectin.     

Inhibition of proliferation of HeLa cells by dithranol (anthralin) and 10-butyryl dithranol (butantrone)

The effects were studied of two antipsoriatic drugs, dithranol (anthralin) and butantrone on the proliferation of HeLa cells. Non-confluent monolayers of HeLa cells were treated with various concentrations (10(-5)-10(-8) M) of dithranol or butantrone for 45 min. The cells were then cultivated for up to 48 h and treated with 10 microM bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and 10 microM fluorodeoxyuridine for 30 min before harvesting. Both drugs at concentrations of 10(-6) and 10(-5) M inhibited the BrdU uptake of HeLa cells, but did not cause any significant change in the proportion of cells in S-phase. The inhibitory effect of dithranol on cell number was linear with concentration 24 h after incubation. The highest (10(-5) M) concentration of butantrone caused an abrupt decrease in cell number.     

Effect of Leucocyte Interferon on Natural Killer Cells in Healthy Volunteers

The effect of partially purified human leucocyte interferon on natural killer activity (NK activity) of peripheral blood in six healthy volunteers was tested in this study. After 4 h of intradermal injection of interferon, a rapid transient decline in NK activity and in the number of NK cells (large granular lymphocytes) in peripheral blood was observed. The decline was most distinct at 20 h and recovered at 72 h. Since no clear activation of Nk cells in peripheral blood was detected, the results suggest an extravasation of NK cells as a result of interferon injection. NK cells did not accumulate at the injection site on the skin, because the suction blister fluids over the injection sites did not contain increased numbers of NK cells.     

Surface glycoproteins of cultured human keratinocytes from normal and uninvolved psoriatic epidermis

Surface glycoproteins of cultured human keratinocytes from normal skin and uninvolved psoriatic epidermis, isolated by the suction blister method, were studied by two different methods. Cells were cultured on collagen-coated culture dishes and showed a fibrillar keratin-specific staining by immunofluorescence. Surface labelling experiments using the neuraminidase/galactose oxidase/sodium borohydride method (which labels the penultimate galactose moieties of glycoproteins) revealed one major glycoprotein with M_r 53 kD (kilodaltons) both in normal keratinocytes and in keratinocytes from uninvolved psoriatic skin. The periodate/sodium borohydride method (which labels the terminal sialic acids in glycoproteins) by contrast revealed three major glycoproteins, with M_r 53 kD to 63 kD, in normal keratinocytes but only a single major glycoprotein, with M_r 53 kD, in keratinocytes from uninvolved psoriatic skin. Treatment of cultured keratinocytes with etretinate appeared to restore the normal pattern of surface glycoproteins in uninvolved psoriatic keratinocytes.     

An eruption associated with alphavirus infection

Summary Some alphaviruses, e.g. Sindbis, cause an acute febrile illness associated with papular rashes and arthralgia. The diagnosis is usually serological and hence, the histopathology of the rashes has heen poorly elucidated. We report on two patients with rapidly healing eruptions associated with Sindbis virus infection. The histopathology of the rashes showed large, pronounced lymphohistiocytic infiltrates with atypical lymphoid cells around the hair follicles, changes not usually seen in rapidly-healing dermatoses.     

Treatment of disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis with a new aromatic retinoid (Ro 10-9359)

An oral aromatic retinoid Ro 10-9359 controlled the skin symptoms and the pruritus of a patient with disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis (DSAP).