Anti-Ia-reactive cells in mycosis fungoides: A study of skin biopsies, single epidermal cells and circulating T lymphocytes

Abstract

Skin sections, epidermal cells in suspension and circulating T lymphocytes were investigated for the presence of Ia-like antigens in a group of patients with the cutaneous T-cell lymphoma mycosis fungoides (MF) and in healthy controls. Highly purified anti-Ia antibodies were used in indirect immunofluorescence, indirect peroxidase and peroxidase-antiperoxidase techniques. Allogeneic and autologous mixed leukocyte reaction tests with epidermal cells from MF lesions as stimulator cells were also performed. The majority of the dermal lymphohistiocytes and mononuclear cells in the epidermal Pautrier microabscesses expressed Ia-like antigens. So also did a greater proportion of circulating T lymphocytes than in the controls. In some MF patients a high percentage of single epidermal cells of non-lymphoid character also reacted with the antibodies. The possible significance of the present findings for the pathogenesis of MF is discussed.