P Quaglino1, P Fava1, M Caproni2, E Antiga2, C De Simone3, M Papini4, A Parodi5, M Novelli1, S Osella-Abate1, S Ribero1, M Sanlorenzo1, R Ponti1, M T Fierro1, A V Marzano6, P Savoia1. 1. Dermatologic Clinic, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy. 2. Section of Dermatology, Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy. 3. Dermatologic Clinic, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy. 4. Dermatologic Clinic, Department of Surgical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Terni, Terni, Italy. 5. Section of Dermatology, DISSAL, IRCCS San Martino- IST, Genoa, Italy. 6. Dermatologic Clinic, Department of Medical and Surgical Physiopathology and Transplants, IRCCS Cà Granda Foundation, University of Milan Policlinic, Milan, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: No data are available as to the phenotype of circulating lymphocyte subsets in pyoderma gangrenosum (PG). AIM: To analyse the expression of different chemokine receptors associated to T-helper (Th)1 (CCR5), Th2 (CCR4) and Th17 (CCR6), as well as the regulatory T-cell subset (Treg) and dendritic cell polarization in the blood of newly diagnosed untreated PG patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Multi-parameter flow cytometry was performed on blood samples from 10 PG patients collected at first diagnosis among centres belonging to the Italian Immuno-pathology Group. Blood samples from 10 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HC) were used as controls. RESULTS: PG patients are characterized by an over-expression in the blood of the CD4+CCR5+ and CD4+CCR6+ and a down-regulation of CD4+CCR4+ counts with respect to healthy subjects. Moreover, they show increased levels of myeloid derived dendritic cells type1 and reduced levels of the Treg CD4+CD25highFOXP3+ subset. CONCLUSIONS: The pattern of chemokine expression argues in favour of a Th1 (CCR5+) and Th17 (CCR6+) polarization with a down-regulation of Th2 (CCR4+).
BACKGROUND: No data are available as to the phenotype of circulating lymphocyte subsets in pyoderma gangrenosum (PG). AIM: To analyse the expression of different chemokine receptors associated to T-helper (Th)1 (CCR5), Th2 (CCR4) and Th17 (CCR6), as well as the regulatory T-cell subset (Treg) and dendritic cell polarization in the blood of newly diagnosed untreated PG patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Multi-parameter flow cytometry was performed on blood samples from 10 PG patients collected at first diagnosis among centres belonging to the Italian Immuno-pathology Group. Blood samples from 10 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HC) were used as controls. RESULTS: PG patients are characterized by an over-expression in the blood of the CD4+CCR5+ and CD4+CCR6+ and a down-regulation of CD4+CCR4+ counts with respect to healthy subjects. Moreover, they show increased levels of myeloid derived dendritic cells type1 and reduced levels of the Treg CD4+CD25highFOXP3+ subset. CONCLUSIONS: The pattern of chemokine expression argues in favour of a Th1 (CCR5+) and Th17 (CCR6+) polarization with a down-regulation of Th2 (CCR4+).