Abstract
Background: Pemphigoid gestationis (PG), also known as herpes gestationis, is a rare autoantibody-mediated bullous disease, usually associated with pregnancy and the postpartum period. However, infiltrating cells have recently been suggested to also contribute to the pathogenesis of cutaneous lesions. Objectives: To evaluate the immunophenotype of T cells infiltrating the PG lesional skin and their prevalent cutaneous cytokine expression, as well as the presence and distribution of mast cells, eosinophils and neutrophils. Methods: We performed an immunohistochemical study with a large panel of monoclonal antibodies to CD3, CD4, CD8, HLA-DR, CD25, myeloperoxidase, tryptase, eosinophil cationic protein EG2, human interleukin (IL)-2, -4, -5, -8, interferon (IFN)-γ, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor using the alkaline phosphatase-antialkaline phosphatase procedure on lesional skin of seven patients with PG. Skin from four subjects with pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy and three additional healthy donors were used as controls. Results: The findings indicate that there is a T-cell population with a prevalent T-helper (Th) 2 phenotype in the lesional skin of PG subjects. We also found a number of eosinophils and neutrophils with clear signs of activation. Conclusions: These data suggest that an inflammatory infiltrate is involved in the production of PG bullous lesions. In particular, we assume that the Th2 cells might be implicated in the very early stages of autoimmune response and may exercise a broad influence in blister formation in this disease.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1141-1148 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | British Journal of Dermatology |
| Volume | 148 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jun 1 2003 |
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Keywords
- Granulocytes
- Immunohistochemistry
- Pemphigoid gestationis
- T-helper 2 lymphocytes
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Dermatology
Cite this
The role of T lymphocytes and cytokines in the pathogenesis of pemphigoid gestationis. / Fabbri, Paolo; Caproni, M.; Berti, S.; Bianchi, B.; Amato, L.; De Pità, O.; Frezzolini, A.
In: British Journal of Dermatology, Vol. 148, No. 6, 01.06.2003, p. 1141-1148.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - The role of T lymphocytes and cytokines in the pathogenesis of pemphigoid gestationis
AU - Fabbri, Paolo
AU - Caproni, M.
AU - Berti, S.
AU - Bianchi, B.
AU - Amato, L.
AU - De Pità, O.
AU - Frezzolini, A.
PY - 2003/6/1
Y1 - 2003/6/1
N2 - Background: Pemphigoid gestationis (PG), also known as herpes gestationis, is a rare autoantibody-mediated bullous disease, usually associated with pregnancy and the postpartum period. However, infiltrating cells have recently been suggested to also contribute to the pathogenesis of cutaneous lesions. Objectives: To evaluate the immunophenotype of T cells infiltrating the PG lesional skin and their prevalent cutaneous cytokine expression, as well as the presence and distribution of mast cells, eosinophils and neutrophils. Methods: We performed an immunohistochemical study with a large panel of monoclonal antibodies to CD3, CD4, CD8, HLA-DR, CD25, myeloperoxidase, tryptase, eosinophil cationic protein EG2, human interleukin (IL)-2, -4, -5, -8, interferon (IFN)-γ, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor using the alkaline phosphatase-antialkaline phosphatase procedure on lesional skin of seven patients with PG. Skin from four subjects with pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy and three additional healthy donors were used as controls. Results: The findings indicate that there is a T-cell population with a prevalent T-helper (Th) 2 phenotype in the lesional skin of PG subjects. We also found a number of eosinophils and neutrophils with clear signs of activation. Conclusions: These data suggest that an inflammatory infiltrate is involved in the production of PG bullous lesions. In particular, we assume that the Th2 cells might be implicated in the very early stages of autoimmune response and may exercise a broad influence in blister formation in this disease.
AB - Background: Pemphigoid gestationis (PG), also known as herpes gestationis, is a rare autoantibody-mediated bullous disease, usually associated with pregnancy and the postpartum period. However, infiltrating cells have recently been suggested to also contribute to the pathogenesis of cutaneous lesions. Objectives: To evaluate the immunophenotype of T cells infiltrating the PG lesional skin and their prevalent cutaneous cytokine expression, as well as the presence and distribution of mast cells, eosinophils and neutrophils. Methods: We performed an immunohistochemical study with a large panel of monoclonal antibodies to CD3, CD4, CD8, HLA-DR, CD25, myeloperoxidase, tryptase, eosinophil cationic protein EG2, human interleukin (IL)-2, -4, -5, -8, interferon (IFN)-γ, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor using the alkaline phosphatase-antialkaline phosphatase procedure on lesional skin of seven patients with PG. Skin from four subjects with pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy and three additional healthy donors were used as controls. Results: The findings indicate that there is a T-cell population with a prevalent T-helper (Th) 2 phenotype in the lesional skin of PG subjects. We also found a number of eosinophils and neutrophils with clear signs of activation. Conclusions: These data suggest that an inflammatory infiltrate is involved in the production of PG bullous lesions. In particular, we assume that the Th2 cells might be implicated in the very early stages of autoimmune response and may exercise a broad influence in blister formation in this disease.
KW - Granulocytes
KW - Immunohistochemistry
KW - Pemphigoid gestationis
KW - T-helper 2 lymphocytes
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0038346521&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0038346521&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1046/j.1365-2133.2003.05265.x
DO - 10.1046/j.1365-2133.2003.05265.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 12828741
AN - SCOPUS:0038346521
VL - 148
SP - 1141
EP - 1148
JO - British Journal of Dermatology
JF - British Journal of Dermatology
SN - 0007-0963
IS - 6
ER -