CD8+ T cells in psoriatic lesions preferentially use T-cell receptor V beta 3 and/or V beta 13.1 genes.

JC Chang, LR Smith, KJ Froning… - Proceedings of the …, 1994 - National Acad Sciences
JC Chang, LR Smith, KJ Froning, BJ Schwabe, JA Laxer, LL Caralli, HH Kurland…
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 1994National Acad Sciences
Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disorder characterized by epidermal keratinocyte
hyperproliferation in association with a cellular infiltrate. There is evidence that activated T
cells play a role in psoriatic plaque formation. We examined the T-cell receptor beta-chain
variable gene segment (V beta) use of epidermal T cells in shave biopsies of psoriatic
lesions. Our results show increased expression of V beta 3 and/or V beta 13.1 messages in
the CD8+, but not CD4+, T cells in the lesions of a majority of patients studied. Sequence …
Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disorder characterized by epidermal keratinocyte hyperproliferation in association with a cellular infiltrate. There is evidence that activated T cells play a role in psoriatic plaque formation. We examined the T-cell receptor beta-chain variable gene segment (V beta) use of epidermal T cells in shave biopsies of psoriatic lesions. Our results show increased expression of V beta 3 and/or V beta 13.1 messages in the CD8+, but not CD4+, T cells in the lesions of a majority of patients studied. Sequence analysis of complementarity-determining region 3 (CDR3) of these two V beta genes from the skin demonstrated monoclonality or marked oligoclonality. A second biopsy from the same or different lesions, performed 3.5-8 months later in four patients, again revealed increased V beta 3 and/or V beta 13.1 expression and clonality. Moreover, in three of the four patients, the same V beta CDR3 rearrangement was found in both biopsies, although there was no V beta CDR3 homology between patients. In two patients in which V beta 3 and/or V beta 13.1 was not increased, an increase in V beta 17 gene use and clonality was found. The clonality of V beta sequence data indicates these cells are recruited and expanded in situ. The persistence of V beta 3-and/or V beta 13.1-bearing CD8+ T cells in lesions that did not undergo resolution suggests their role as effector cells rather than as regulatory cells.
National Acad Sciences