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Isolation and Th17 Differentiation of Naïve CD4 T Lymphocytes
Published on: September 27, 2013
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Murine psoriasis-like disorder induced by naive CD4+ T cells
M P Schön1, M Detmar, C M Parker
1Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Nature Medicine
|February 1, 1997
Summary
Researchers demonstrated that specific CD4+ T cells can induce psoriasis-like skin conditions in mice. This finding highlights the central role of these T cells in the complex disorder, even without CD8+ cells.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Dermatology
- Pathogenesis of skin diseases
Background:
- Psoriasis is a complex skin disorder with suspected T-cell involvement.
- Previous evidence suggested T-cell pathogenesis, but a direct causal role remained unproven.
Purpose of the Study:
- To directly demonstrate the role of T cells in psoriasis pathogenesis.
- To investigate the capacity of specific T-cell subsets to induce psoriasis-like skin alterations.
Main Methods:
- Reconstitution of severe combined immunodeficient (scid/scid) mice with naive CD4+ T lymphocytes.
- Analysis of skin alterations, cytokine expression, and histopathology.
- Comparison with mice coinjected with memory T cells.
Main Results:
- Naive CD4+ T lymphocyte transfer induced skin alterations resembling human psoriasis.
- These alterations were observed clinically, histopathologically, and in cytokine profiles.
- Coinjection with memory T cells diminished the induced skin disorder.
Conclusions:
- Dysregulated CD4+ T cells can independently cause psoriasis-like tissue changes.
- The pathogenesis of psoriasis can be driven by specific T-cell subsets.
- Psoriasis development does not necessitate CD8+ T cells or primary epithelial abnormalities.

