A role of skin homing receptor on tonsillar T-cells from patients with pustulosis palmaris et plantaris

Abstract

We investigated the expression of cutaneous lymphocyte antigen (CLA) on tonsillar T-cells from patients with pustulosis palmaris et plantaris (PPP). Two-color immunohistologic analysis was used for CLA expression in tonsillar tissues. Two-color flow cytometric analysis was performed for CLA expression on tonsillar T-cells at freshly isolated and α-streptococcal antigen stimulus conditions. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was employed for the measurement of IL-6 and TGF-β levels in the culture supernatant fluids of tonsillar lymphocytes stimulated by α-streptococcal antigens. Two-color immunohistologic analysis and two-color flow cytometry revealed that the numbers of CLA-positive tonsillar CD3-cells in tissue and freshly isolated condition were significantly higher in patients with PPP than those in patients with non-PPP. Stimulation of α-streptococcal antigens from S. mitis and S. salivalius statistically increased CLA-positive CD3-cells in PPP, but did not in non-PPP. The stimulation of S. sanguis and S. salivalius antigen also increased TGF-β production by tonsillar lymphocytes from PPP, but did not from non-PPP. These results suggest that hyper-immune response to α-streptococci may increase CLA expression of tonsillar T-cells through TGF-β production, and it may play a key role in the pathogenesis of PPP.