Increased CCR4 Expression in Cutaneous T Cell Lymphoma

• Published in: Journal of investigative dermatology Vol. 119; no. 6; pp. 1405 - 1410
• Main Authors: Ferenczi, Katalin, Fuhlbrigge, Robert C., Kupper, Thomas S., Pinkus, Jack L., Pinkus, Geraldine S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Danvers, MA Elsevier Inc 01.12.2002; Nature Publishing; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Chemokine CCL17; Chemokine CCL22; Chemokines, CC - biosynthesis; Chemokines, CC - metabolism; CLA/mycosis fungoides; Dermatology; Flow Cytometry; Hematologic and hematopoietic diseases; Humans; Immunophenotyping; Leukemias. Malignant lymphomas. Malignant reticulosis. Myelofibrosis; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous - immunology; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous - metabolism; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous - pathology; Medical sciences; Receptors, CCR4; Receptors, Chemokine - biosynthesis; Receptors, Chemokine - metabolism; Skin - immunology; Skin - pathology; skin homing; Skin Neoplasms - immunology; Skin Neoplasms - metabolism; Skin Neoplasms - pathology; T cell; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; T-Lymphocytes - metabolism; Tumors of the skin and soft tissue. Premalignant lesions; CLA/mycosis fungoides; T cell; skin homing; Human; Skin disease; CCR4 chemokine receptor; Cutaneous hematologic disease; Lymphoproliferative syndrome; T-Lymphocyte; Homing phenomenon; CLA/mycosis fungoides/skin homing/T cell; Malignant hemopathy; Skin; Lymphoma
• ISSN: 0022-202X; 1523-1747
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1523-1747.2002.19610.x

Chemokines are critical molecules in leukocyte trafficking, promoting site-specific migration to various tissues. The chemokine receptor CCR4 has recently been associated with skin-homing T cells. In view of the potential importance of CCR4 in skin homing of T cells, we investigated the expression pattern of CCR4 and its ligands TARC/CCL17 and MDC/CCL22 in the peripheral blood and skin of patients with cutaneous T cell lymphoma, a putative malignancy of the skin-homing T cells. In this study we analyzed the pattern of coexpression of the skin-homing molecules cutaneous lymphocyte antigen (CLA) and CCR4 in the blood and skin of patients with cutaneous T cell lymphoma. In the blood of cutaneous T cell lymphoma patients with peripheral blood involvement we found significantly increased percentages of T cells displaying the skin-homing phenotype (CLA+CCR4+) compared with healthy individuals. T cells expressing CLA and CCR4 were also found at high levels in cutaneous T cell lymphoma lesions along with abundant expression of the two CCR4 ligands TARC/CCL17 and MDC/CCL22. These data may explain, in part, why these T cells accumulate in the skin, a diagnostic feature of cutaneous T cell lymphomas.