Abstract
Background: Granulysin is a recently identified antimicrobial protein expressed on cytotoxic T cells, natural killer (NK) cells and NKT cells. It has been shown that granulysin contributes to the defence mechanisms against mycobacterial infection. Superficial microbial folliculitis is a common skin disease. In a previous report, we showed that, as a first line of defence, α-defensin, a human neutrophil peptide, and β-defensin (human β-defensin-2) were expressed in infiltrating neutrophils and in lesional epidermal keratinocytes, respectively, in superficial folliculitis. As we also observed many infiltrating lymphocytes in lesional dermis, we hypothesized that infiltrating lymphocytes may possess antimicrobial substances, such as granulysin, and play a role in the defence mechanism as a second line of defence. Objectives: Seven specimens of superficial microbial folliculitis diagnosed clinically and histologically were examined by means of immunohistochemistry. To identify the phenotype of cells expressing granulysin, confocal laser microscopic examination was performed. Results: A dense lymphoid cell infiltrate was observed in pustules, in the perivascular regions. A large number of these lymphoid cells were positive for granulysin. Phenotypically, cells consisted of CD3+ T cells, CD8+ T cells and UCHL-1+ T cells. CD20+ cells and CD56+ cells were not observed. Microscopic examination with a confocal laser showed that the lymphocytes producing granulysin were CD3+ and CD4+ T cells but not CD8+ T cells. Conclusions: We showed that many granulysin-bearing T cells infiltrated affected follicles and perilesional dermis in superficial microbial folliculitis. However, few granulysin-positive lymphoid cells were observed in sterile pustular lesions. Our observations indicated that adaptive immunity such as granulysin, a lymphocyte-produced antimicrobial protein, may play an important role in the cutaneous defence mechanism.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 904-909 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | British Journal of Dermatology |
| Volume | 150 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - May 2004 |
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Keywords
- Adaptive immunity
- CD4+ T cell
- Folliculitis
- Granulysin
- Innate immunity
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Dermatology
Cite this
Involvement of granulysin-producing T cells in the development of superficial microbial folliculitis. / Oono, Takashi; Morizane, Shin; Yamasaki, Osamu; Shirafuji, Y.; Huh, W. K.; Akiyama, H.; Iwatsuki, K.
In: British Journal of Dermatology, Vol. 150, No. 5, 05.2004, p. 904-909.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Involvement of granulysin-producing T cells in the development of superficial microbial folliculitis
AU - Oono, Takashi
AU - Morizane, Shin
AU - Yamasaki, Osamu
AU - Shirafuji, Y.
AU - Huh, W. K.
AU - Akiyama, H.
AU - Iwatsuki, K.
PY - 2004/5
Y1 - 2004/5
N2 - Background: Granulysin is a recently identified antimicrobial protein expressed on cytotoxic T cells, natural killer (NK) cells and NKT cells. It has been shown that granulysin contributes to the defence mechanisms against mycobacterial infection. Superficial microbial folliculitis is a common skin disease. In a previous report, we showed that, as a first line of defence, α-defensin, a human neutrophil peptide, and β-defensin (human β-defensin-2) were expressed in infiltrating neutrophils and in lesional epidermal keratinocytes, respectively, in superficial folliculitis. As we also observed many infiltrating lymphocytes in lesional dermis, we hypothesized that infiltrating lymphocytes may possess antimicrobial substances, such as granulysin, and play a role in the defence mechanism as a second line of defence. Objectives: Seven specimens of superficial microbial folliculitis diagnosed clinically and histologically were examined by means of immunohistochemistry. To identify the phenotype of cells expressing granulysin, confocal laser microscopic examination was performed. Results: A dense lymphoid cell infiltrate was observed in pustules, in the perivascular regions. A large number of these lymphoid cells were positive for granulysin. Phenotypically, cells consisted of CD3+ T cells, CD8+ T cells and UCHL-1+ T cells. CD20+ cells and CD56+ cells were not observed. Microscopic examination with a confocal laser showed that the lymphocytes producing granulysin were CD3+ and CD4+ T cells but not CD8+ T cells. Conclusions: We showed that many granulysin-bearing T cells infiltrated affected follicles and perilesional dermis in superficial microbial folliculitis. However, few granulysin-positive lymphoid cells were observed in sterile pustular lesions. Our observations indicated that adaptive immunity such as granulysin, a lymphocyte-produced antimicrobial protein, may play an important role in the cutaneous defence mechanism.
AB - Background: Granulysin is a recently identified antimicrobial protein expressed on cytotoxic T cells, natural killer (NK) cells and NKT cells. It has been shown that granulysin contributes to the defence mechanisms against mycobacterial infection. Superficial microbial folliculitis is a common skin disease. In a previous report, we showed that, as a first line of defence, α-defensin, a human neutrophil peptide, and β-defensin (human β-defensin-2) were expressed in infiltrating neutrophils and in lesional epidermal keratinocytes, respectively, in superficial folliculitis. As we also observed many infiltrating lymphocytes in lesional dermis, we hypothesized that infiltrating lymphocytes may possess antimicrobial substances, such as granulysin, and play a role in the defence mechanism as a second line of defence. Objectives: Seven specimens of superficial microbial folliculitis diagnosed clinically and histologically were examined by means of immunohistochemistry. To identify the phenotype of cells expressing granulysin, confocal laser microscopic examination was performed. Results: A dense lymphoid cell infiltrate was observed in pustules, in the perivascular regions. A large number of these lymphoid cells were positive for granulysin. Phenotypically, cells consisted of CD3+ T cells, CD8+ T cells and UCHL-1+ T cells. CD20+ cells and CD56+ cells were not observed. Microscopic examination with a confocal laser showed that the lymphocytes producing granulysin were CD3+ and CD4+ T cells but not CD8+ T cells. Conclusions: We showed that many granulysin-bearing T cells infiltrated affected follicles and perilesional dermis in superficial microbial folliculitis. However, few granulysin-positive lymphoid cells were observed in sterile pustular lesions. Our observations indicated that adaptive immunity such as granulysin, a lymphocyte-produced antimicrobial protein, may play an important role in the cutaneous defence mechanism.
KW - Adaptive immunity
KW - CD4+ T cell
KW - Folliculitis
KW - Granulysin
KW - Innate immunity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=3042823931&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=3042823931&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2004.05925.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2004.05925.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 15149502
AN - SCOPUS:3042823931
VL - 150
SP - 904
EP - 909
JO - British Journal of Dermatology
JF - British Journal of Dermatology
SN - 0007-0963
IS - 5
ER -