Chemokine receptor expression by leukemic T cells of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma: clinical and histopathological correlations

J Invest Dermatol. 2007 Dec;127(12):2882-92. doi: 10.1038/sj.jid.5700916. Epub 2007 Jun 28.

Abstract

Chemokine receptors expressed by normal and neoplastic lymphocytes provide an important mechanism for cells to traffic into the skin and skin-associated lymph nodes. The goal of this study was to correlate chemokine receptor and CD62L expression by circulating neoplastic T cells with the clinical and pathological findings of the leukemic phase of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, primarily Sézary syndrome (SS). Chemokine receptor mRNA transcripts were found in the majority of leukemic cells for CCR1, CCR4, CCR7, CCR10, CXCR3, and CD62L and in 20-50% of the samples for CXCR5. In patients with SS, relatively high expression levels of CCR7 and CCR10 by circulating neoplastic T cells correlated with epidermotropism, CXCR5 expression correlated with density of the dermal infiltrate, and CD62L correlated with extent of lymphadenopathy. Of note, CXCR5 expression and a dense dermal infiltrate correlated with a poor prognosis. The chemokine receptor profile supports the concept that neoplastic T cells are central memory T cells, and that CCR10 and CD62L play a fundamental role respectively in epidermotropism and lymphadenopathy that is observed in SS.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / biosynthesis
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry / methods
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Memory / immunology
  • L-Selectin / biosynthesis
  • Lymph Nodes / pathology
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous / immunology*
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous / metabolism
  • Male
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / biosynthesis
  • Middle Aged
  • Receptors, Chemokine / biosynthesis*
  • Sezary Syndrome / genetics
  • Skin / immunology
  • Skin / pathology
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte
  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • CTAGE1 protein, human
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Receptors, Chemokine
  • L-Selectin