Mycosis fungoides exhibits a Th1-type cell-mediated cytokine profile whereas sezary syndrome expresses a Th2-type profile

Abstract

We determined T-cell cytokine profiles in the epidermis, dermis, and blood of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma to differentiate whether unique cytokine profiles were associated with mycosis fungoides (MF) versus Sezary syndrome. Punch biopsy specimens from plaque stage MF (n = 7) were compared to Sezary skin (n = 3) after undergoing rapid heat-saline separation of epidermis from dermis. Normal adult skin (n = 11), neonatal foreskin (n = 4), untreated psoriatic plaques (n = 6), and normal donor peripheral blood leukocytes (n = 3) were studied as controls. Total RNA was extracted from all skin specimens, as well as peripheral blood leukocytes from MF (n = 3) and Sezary patients (n = 7), and was converted to cDNA by reverse transcriptase. Polymerase chain reaction amplification of cDNAs using interleukin 2 (IL-2), IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, and interferon γ-specific primers was used to differentiate Th1-type responses (IL-24t and interferon γ+) from Th2-type responses (IL-4+, IL-5+, and IL-10+). β-actin specific primers were included as a positive control for mRNA integrity. All MF specimens contained mRNAs for IL-2 and interferon γ limited to epidermis but no IL-4, IL-5, or IL-10. In contrast, Sezary skin and blood showed a cytokine mRNA pattern dominated by IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10. MF blood showed a pattern similar to normal peripheral blood T cells with mixed detection of all T-helper cell cytokine mRNAs. All psoriasis samples contained mRNAs for IL-2 and interferon γ in both epidermis and dermis with no IL-4 or IL-10 in either compartment. These findings demonstrate that the cutaneous lesions of MF are characterized by an epidermal Th1-type cytokine profile, whereas both the blood and skin of patients with Sezary syndrome is characterized by a Th2-type profile. This work suggests that differences in cytokine production may be related to the pathophysiology and clinical presentation in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. © 1994.