The development of manifest psoriatic lesions is linked with the invasion of CD8 + T cells and CD11c + macrophages into the epidermis

• Published in: Archives of dermatological research Vol. 284; no. 7; p. 375
• Main Authors: Paukkonen, K, Naukkarinen, A, Horsmanheimo, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany 01.12.1992
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Antigens, CD - blood; CD11 Antigens; Epidermis - immunology; Female; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Inflammation - etiology; Inflammation - immunology; Inflammation - pathology; Macrophages - immunology; Male; Middle Aged; Psoriasis - complications; Psoriasis - immunology; Psoriasis - pathology; Random Allocation; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory - immunology
• ISSN: 0340-3696
• DOI: 10.1007/BF00372065

Koebner response was studied in 35 psoriatic patients. Two punch biopsies per patient were taken from non-lesional psoriatic skin before, and 6 h, 2 days, 7 days, 14 days and 21 days after, tape stripping. Alterations in the numbers of CD1+ Langerhans cells, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and CD11c+ macrophages were mapped morphometrically. Results were compared with lesional and non-lesional psoriatic skin, and control skin. Nine of 35 patients were Koebner-positive. No statistically significant differences were noted between non-lesional psoriatic and control skin. CD4+ T cells increased in number 2 days after trauma in both the epidermis and the dermis, whereas epidermal CD8+ T cells and CD11c+ macrophages increased only in the Koebner-positive lesional skin after 7 days. The changes in lesions induced by tape-stripping resembled those seen in lesional psoriatic skin (mature plaques). The number of CD1+ cells increased in mature psoriatic lesions only. It seems possible that trauma per se stimulates the accumulation of CD4+ T cells at the site of injury, but the development of manifest psoriatic lesions correlates with invasion of CD8+ T cells and CD11c+ macrophages into the epidermis.