Identification of Lesional CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ Regulatory T Cells in Psoriasis

• Published in: Dermatology (Basel) Vol. 213; no. 2; pp. 111 - 117
• Main Authors: Bovenschen, H.J., van Vlijmen-Willems, I.M.J.J., van de Kerkhof, P.C.M., van Erp, P.E.J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland Karger 01.01.2006; S. Karger AG
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - metabolism; Biopsy; CD4 Antigens - metabolism; Clinical and Laboratory Investigations; Dermatology; Epidermis - metabolism; Epidermis - pathology; Female; Fluorescence; Forkhead Transcription Factors - metabolism; Humans; Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit - metabolism; Male; Medical sciences; Microscopy, Fluorescence; Psoriasis; Psoriasis - immunology; Psoriasis - metabolism; Psoriasis - pathology; Psoriasis. Parapsoriasis. Lichen; T cell receptors; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory - immunology; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory - metabolism; Zenon immunofluorescence; Psoriasis; Regulatory T cells; T-cell subsets; Skin disease; Psoriasis #Zenon immunofluorescence #Regulatory T cells; Dermatology; T-Lymphocyte; Identification; Immunofluorescence
• ISSN: 1018-8665; 1421-9832
• DOI: 10.1159/000093849

Background: Depletion of CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ naturally occurring regulatory T cells (T reg ) induces autoimmune phenomena. These cells have not yet been fully characterized in the skin of psoriatic patients. Objectives: To prove that the Zenon immunofluorescent labeling technique is suitable for the demonstration of co-localization of T-cell markers and in particular to show the distribution of T reg in psoriatic skin. Methods: In biopsies derived from normal and psoriatic skin, CD4+ CD25+, CD4+ CD45RO+, CD8+ CD25+, CD8+ CD45RO+ and CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ cells in the dermis and in the epidermis were immunophenotyped, using a quantitative immunofluorescent labeling technique (Zenon), analyzed and compared using image analysis. Results:The immunofluorescent labeling technique was shown to be an easy and reliable tool to demonstrate co-localization of T-cell markers. In psoriasis, all pathogenic T-cell subsets (CD4+ CD25+, CD4+ CD45RO+, CD8+ CD25+ and CD8+ CD45RO+ cells) were significantly increased in the dermis and in the epidermis, as compared to normal skin (all p < 0.05). Using this labeling technique we were able to reveal CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ T reg in psoriatic dermis, but not in the dermis of normal skin (p < 0.0001). Conclusions:The Zenon immunofluorescence technique in combination with image analysis is suitable for the demonstration of co-localization of T-cell markers in tissue. Increased numbers of pathogenic T cells (CD4+ CD25+, CD4+ CD45RO+, CD8+ CD25+ and CD8+ CD45RO+) were shown in the dermis and epidermis, whereas CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ T reg were identified in psoriatic skin with a predilection for the upper dermis.