Mycosis fungoides exhibits a Th1-type cell-mediated cytokine profile whereas Sezary syndrome expresses a Th2-type profile

J Invest Dermatol. 1994 Jul;103(1):29-33. doi: 10.1111/1523-1747.ep12388985.

Abstract

We determined T-cell cytokine profiles in the epidermis, dermis, and blood of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma to differentiate whether unique cytokine profiles were associated with mycosis fungoides (MF) versus Sezary syndrome. Punch biopsy specimens from plaque stage MF (n = 7) were compared to Sezary skin (n = 3) after undergoing rapid heat-saline separation of epidermis from dermis. Normal adult skin (n = 11), neonatal foreskin (n = 4), untreated psoriatic plaques (n = 6), and normal donor peripheral blood leukocytes (n = 3) were studied as controls. Total RNA was extracted from all skin specimens, as well as peripheral blood leukocytes from MF (n = 3) and Sezary patients (n = 7), and was converted to cDNA by reverse transcriptase. Polymerase chain reaction amplification of cDNAs using interleukin 2 (IL-2), IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, and interferon gamma-specific primers was used to differentiate Th1-type responses (IL-2+ and interferon gamma +) from Th2-type responses (IL-4+, IL-5+, and IL-10+). beta-actin specific primers were included as a positive control for mRNA integrity. All MF specimens contained mRNAs for IL-2 and interferon gamma limited to epidermis but not IL-4, IL-5, or IL-10. In contrast, Sezary skin and blood showed a cytokine mRNA pattern dominated by IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10. MF blood showed a pattern similar to normal peripheral blood T cells with mixed detection of all T-helper cell cytokine mRNAs. All psoriasis samples contained mRNAs for IL-2 and interferon gamma in both epidermis and dermis with no IL-4 or IL-10 in either compartment. These findings demonstrate that the cutaneous lesions of MF are characterized by an epidermal Th1-type cytokine profile, whereas both the blood and skin of patients with Sezary syndrome is characterized by a Th2-type profile. This work suggests that differences in cytokine production may be related to the pathophysiology and clinical presentation in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • Biopsy
  • Blotting, Southern
  • Cytokines / analysis*
  • Cytokines / genetics
  • Cytokines / metabolism*
  • DNA, Neoplasm / analysis
  • DNA, Neoplasm / genetics
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Cellular
  • Interferon-gamma / analysis
  • Interferon-gamma / genetics
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism
  • Interleukin-10 / analysis
  • Interleukin-10 / genetics
  • Interleukin-10 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-2 / analysis
  • Interleukin-2 / genetics
  • Interleukin-2 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-4 / analysis
  • Interleukin-4 / genetics
  • Interleukin-4 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-5 / analysis
  • Interleukin-5 / genetics
  • Interleukin-5 / metabolism
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mycosis Fungoides / diagnosis*
  • Mycosis Fungoides / metabolism
  • Mycosis Fungoides / pathology*
  • Phenotype
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • RNA, Messenger / analysis
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • Sezary Syndrome / diagnosis*
  • Sezary Syndrome / metabolism
  • Sezary Syndrome / pathology*
  • Skin / chemistry
  • Skin / metabolism
  • Skin / pathology
  • Skin Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Skin Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / chemistry*
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes / pathology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / immunology

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • DNA, Neoplasm
  • Interleukin-2
  • Interleukin-5
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Interleukin-10
  • Interleukin-4
  • Interferon-gamma