Expression of beta-2 integrin molecules on human keratinocytes in cytokine-mediated skin diseases

Integrins are cell surface molecules of importance in a wide variety of cellular functions, including morphogenesis, cell migration and cell matrix interactions. The beta-2 (B2) integrin (leukocyte integrin, CD11/CD18) subfamily comprising three members, each consisting of a shared beta subunit (CD18) non-covalently associated with unique alpha subunits (CD11a, CD11b, CD11c). In the present study, we have analysed the expression pattern of B2 integrins on the surface of human keratinocytes (HKs) in biopsies obtained from healthy volunteers, from positive tuberculin skin tests and from patients with acute urticaria (AU), lichen planus (LP), psoriasis vulgaris (PV), mycosis fungoides (MF) or purpura pigmentosa chronica (PPC). In biopsies obtained from positive tuberculin tests and from the clinically involved skin of patients with LP, PV, MF or PPC, a multifocally occurring, suprabasal peroxidase-positive reaction was observed on the membranes of the HKs when the monoclonal antibodies (MABs) Dako CD11a, Dako-p150, 95 or Dako CD18 were used. In contrast, no specific staining of the HKs was observed with the same MABs in biopsies from healthy volunteers, from patients with AU and in the uninvolved skin specimens obtained from the other patients. The HKs from PV, LP, MF, PPC and AU patients and those from the healthy subjects failed to give a positive reaction when the MAB against CD11b (OKM1) was used. Our present findings provide further evidence that HKs may be actively involved in cell adhesion processes.