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Restricted T-cell receptor Vβ gene usage in the skin of patients with guttate and chronic plaque psoriasis

1993; Oxford University Press; Volume: 129; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1111/j.1365-2133.1993.tb00477.x

1365-2133

Huckaby Lewis, Barbara S. Baker, Senur Bokth, A.V. Powles, J. Garioch, Helgi Valdimarsson, L. Fry,

Asthma and respiratory diseases

A strong association between acute guttate psoriasis and group A, β‐haemolytic streptococcal infections is well established. Furthermore, streptococcal M proteins and toxins have been shown to act as superantigens, stimulating subpopulations of T lymphocytes expressing particular Vβ families. We have therefore studied the possible role of streptococcal superantigens in psoriasis by staining peripheral T lymphocytes and skin sections from patients with guttate or chronic plaque psoriasis for the expression of nine TCR Vβ families, using a range of monoclonal antibodies. A marked over‐representation of Vβ2+ T lymphocytes was observed in the dermis and epidermis of patients in both groups, when compared with T lymphocytes in their peripheral blood. A less marked dermal increase in Vβ5.1+ T lymphocytes was also observed in these patients. These findings are consistent with the involvement of a superantigen, possibly streptococcal, in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.