Accumulation of γδ T cells in chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus

Abstract

Monoclonal antibodies (moAbs) that recognize common or variable determinants of the γδ T-cell receptor (TcR) were used to assess γδ T-cell distribution on biopsy specimens and/ or peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) from 30 patients suffering from chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CCLE). CD3 +/γδ TcR+ T cells were evaluated in 15 biopsies from patients with CCLE lesions, their numbers varying from 0.5 to 15.0% of all intralesional CD3+ T cells present. In all specimens from lesional skin γδ TCR+ T cells were BB3 + and/or TiγA+, indicating predominant use of the Vγ2/Vδ2 phenotype. In the CCLE lesions the intraepidermal Vγ2/ Vδ2 + T cells were observed in close vicinity to the damaged basal keratinocyte (KC) layer, and also randomly scattered among the densely packed inflammatory infiltrate in the dermis. In contrast to the immunohistologic findings, no numerical increase of γδ TcR + T cells could be observed among PBL from 28 of 30 CCLE patients. Only one CCLE patient being treated with hydroxychloroquine for two months had 15% CD3 +/γδ TcR+ T cells among the PBL. Based on the immunohistologic findings one may infer that in CCLE, a skin-restricted form of LE, Vγ2/Vδ2+ T cells expand extrathymically to an as yet unknown stimulus. One may also propose that these γδ T cells-based on their cytotoxic capacity-may contribute to the epidermal damage. It remains to be determined whether the extrathymic expansion of Vγ2/Vδ2+ Tells occurs within lesional skin or in the periphery within subsequent recruitment into skin lesions. The results obtained by fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis favor the first possibility. © 1993.