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. 2010 Nov;22(4):397-403.
doi: 10.5021/ad.2010.22.4.397. Epub 2010 Nov 5.

Role of CD4CD25FOXP3 Regulatory T Cells in Psoriasis

Woo-Jin Yun  1 , Deok-Woo Lee, Sung-Eun Chang, Ghil-Suk Yoon, Joo-Ryung Huh, Chong-Hyun Won, Mi-Woo Lee, Sung-Eun Kim, Beom-Joon Kim, Kee-Chan Moon, Jee-Ho Choi
Affiliations

Role of CD4CD25FOXP3 Regulatory T Cells in Psoriasis

Woo-Jin Yun et al. Ann Dermatol. 2010 Nov.

Abstract

Background: CD4(+)CD25(high+)regulatory T cells (Tregs) are considered to be of vital importance for maintaining immunologic self-tolerance and preventing autoimmune diseases. These cells have been found to be deficient in skin lesions and in the peripheral blood of patients with psoriasis.

Objective: To investigate the role of Tregs in the pathogenesis of psoriasis and to evaluate the changes in Tregs in relation to the severity and the clinical course of psoriasis.

Methods: Immunohistochemistry (CD3, 4, 8, 79 and FOXP3) was performed in 22 psoriatic patients compared to 5 normal controls. Flow cytometry (CD3, 4, 8, 25 and FOXP3) was performed in 18 psoriatic patients and 8 normal volunteers and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (foxp3 mRNA) was performed in 8 psoriasis patients.

Results: An increase in the FOXP3(+) cell fraction was detected in the lesional psoriatic skin irrespective of the severity of psoriasis as compared with the normal skin. However, a decrease in FOXP3(+) cells was observed in the samples obtained from psoriasis of 'acute course'. FOXP3(+) Treg populations in the blood of the 'acute course' psoriasis was not different compared to that of 'chronic course' psoriasis and normal controls.

Conclusion: The deficiency of FOXP3(+) Tregs in the lesional psoriatic skin might be responsible for the exacerbation of psoriasis.

Keywords: CD4+CD25high+regulatory T cells; FOXP3; Psoriasis.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Immunohistochemistry of normal skin (A: CD3, ×200, B: CD4, ×200, C: CD8, ×200, D: FOXP3, ×200). The percentage of FOXP3+ mononuclear cells in normal skin is 10~20%; the mononuclear cells are CD3, CD4 and CD8+.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
(A) Immunohistochemistry for FOXP3, ×200: Typical plaque type psoriasis (Case No. 3). In psoriatic skin lesions, FOXP3+ cells are mainly observed in papillary dermis, consisting of about 20~40% of the mononuclear cellular infiltration. (B) Immunohistochemistry for FOXP3, ×200: Palmoplantar pustular psoriasis (Case No. 15). FOXP3+ cells consists of about 20~30% of the mononuclear cellular infiltration.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Immunohistochemistry for FOXP3, ×200: Acute severe plaque type psoriasis (Case No. 4). FOXP3+ T cells are relatively deficient.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Immunohistochemistry for FOXP3, ×200: Acute moderate to severe plaque type psoriasis (Case No. 8). The ratio of FOXP3+ Treg to mononuclear cells is decreased.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Immunohistochemistry for FOXP3, ×200: Acute exacerbating erythrodermic psoriasis (Case No. 18). FOXP3+ cells are almost absent.
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Result of flow-cytometry for FOXP3. In all samples, the percentage of FOXP3+ was 3~10% among the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the normal control group (n=8) and the results were similar between the cases of acute psoriasis (n=6), and chronic psoriasis (n=12).
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
Results of flow-cytometry for CD4 and CD25. CD4+CD25high+cell fraction ranged between 3~10% of the peripheral blood mononuclear cell in all subsets of the patients.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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