Increase in TNF-alpha and inducible nitric oxide synthase-expressing dendritic cells in psoriasis and reduction with efalizumab (anti-CD11a). Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • We find that CD11c(+) cells with many markers of dendritic cells (DCs) are a major cell type in the skin lesions of psoriasis. These CD11c(+) cells, which are evident in both epidermis and dermis, are the sites for the expression of two mediators of inflammation, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and TNF-alpha in diseased skin. These cells express HLA-DR, CD40, and CD86, lack the Langerin and CD14 markers of Langerhans cells and monocytes, respectively, and to a significant extent express the DC maturation markers DC-LAMP and CD83. Treatment of psoriasis with efalizumab (anti-CD11a, Raptiva) strongly reduces infiltration by these DCs in patients responding to this agent. Disease activity after therapy was more related to DC infiltrates and iNOS mRNA levels than T cell infiltrates, and CD11c(+) cells responded more quickly to therapy than epidermal keratinocytes. Our results suggest that a type of DC, which resembles murine "Tip-DCs" that can accumulate during infection, has proinflammatory effects in psoriasis through nitric oxide and TNF-alpha production, and can be an important target for suppressive therapies.

publication date

  • December 27, 2005

Research

keywords

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Dendritic Cells
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
  • Psoriasis
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC1323218

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 30044435436

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1073/pnas.0509736102

PubMed ID

  • 16380428

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 102

issue

  • 52