FOXP3+ and CD39+ regulatory T cells in subtypes of cutaneous lupus erythematosus. (25th March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gambichler, T.; Pätzholz, J.; Schmitz, L.; Lahner, N.; Kreuter, A.
• Is Part Of: Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. Volume 29:Number 10(2015:Oct.)
• Page Start: 1972
• Page End: 1977
• Publication Date: 2015-03-25
• Subjects: Dermatology -- Periodicals; Sexually transmitted diseases -- Periodicals; 616.5
• DOI: 10.1111/jdv.13123
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0926-9959

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="jdv13123-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="jdv13123-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>Lupus erythematosus (LE) is an autoimmune disease in which regulatory T cells play a pathogenetic role.</p> </sec> <sec id="jdv13123-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Objectives</title> <p>We aimed to assess and compare the quantities of lesional Tregs in subtypes of cutaneous LE (CLE) including chronic discoid LE (CDLE), LE tumidus (LET) and subacute CLE (SCLE).</p> </sec> <sec id="jdv13123-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Thirty‐nine patients with CLE were enrolled in the study. Immunohistochemistry was performed for CD4, CD8, FOXP3 and CD39.</p> </sec> <sec id="jdv13123-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>We studied nine CDLE patients, 21 LET patients and nine patients with SCLE. SCLE lesions [37 (0–134)] showed a significantly (<italic>P</italic> = 0.024) decreased percentage of CD4+ cells when compared with CDLE [125 (0–146)] and LET [124 (0–240)] lesions. Moreover, the CD4/CD8 ratio in SCLE lesions [0.7 (0.5–1.8)] was significantly (<italic>P</italic> = 0.027) decreased when compared with CDLE [1.9 (1.5–2.8)] and LET [1.6 (0.8–2.9)] lesions. FOXP3 immunopositivity was significantly (<italic>P</italic> = 0.017) decreased in LET [0 (0–6)] and SCLE [1 (0–2)] lesions when compared with CDLE [6 (0–38)]. Moreover, in LET [2 (0–6)] and SCLE [2 (0–2)], we observed a significantly (<italic>P</italic> = 0.0049) diminished CD39‐immunoreactivity when compared with CDLE [4 (2–12)]. CD4+ cell count is a significant (<italic>P</italic> = 0.0133) negative predictor for the diagnosis of SCLE (Odds ratio 0.978, 95% CI 0.960–0.99).</p> </sec> <sec id="jdv13123-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Our data indicate that there are differences in quantities of lesional T helper cells, CD4/CD8 ratio and Tregs among subtypes of CLE. Interestingly, a more significant decrease in Tregs, which likely reflects greater loss of immune‐tolerance, is observed in the more photosensitive subtypes of CLE such as SCLE and LET.</p> </sec> </abstract>