Lymphocyte activation by streptococcal antigens in psoriasis

Abstract

Cell-mediated immune responses in 28 hospitalized patients with psoriasis and in 36 healthy controls were studied using the two-step leukocyte migration agarose test. Specific cell-mediated immunity to A-streptococcal cell wall and cell membrane antigens occurred significantly more often in patients with psoriasis than in the control group. A statistically significant correlation between psoriasis-associated antigens of the HLA-B locus and cellular immune reactivity to A-streptococcal antigens or clinical course was not found. When patients with guttate psoriasis were compared separately with the control group, leukocyte migration inhibition induced by cell-free supernatants of A-streptococcal antigen-exposed mononuclear cell cultures was found to be more frequent than in other forms of psoriasis.

HLA-Related Lymphocyte Responsiveness in Psoriasis

“…Lymphocte activation by somatic A-streptococcal antigens reflects, under certain circumstances, a spe cific immune response [Gross et al, 1979]. In an earli er study on nearly the same group of patients, the lymphokine responses were associated with the clini cal course [Gross et al, 1977b]. In the present study, the lymphocyte responses were qualitatively the same in all patients.…”

“…The patients belonged to a group analyzed earlier for lymphocyte responsiveness to several streptococcal antigens [Gross et al, 1977b [Grosset al. 1980).…”

“…(I) Streptococcal antigens, (a) cell walls: strains of group A, type 12, and group C streptococci and growth conditions have been described in detail elsewhere | Gross et al, 1977b). (b) Streptokinase-streptodornase (SKSD) was preserva tive-free and supplied by Lederle (FRG).…”

“…Among the large number of factors precipitating the disease, triggering infections, mainly of strepto coccal origin, have led to much speculation [NorholmPedersen, 1952], Patients with psoriasis have positive tonsillar swabs [Norholm-Pedersen, 1952], elevated antibody titres to streptococcal products [Norrlind, 1954], and heightened lymphocyte responses to strept ococcal antigens [Gross et al, 1977b;Borisenko and Koshevenko, 1978]. Associations between HLA anti gens and infection-related exacerbation [Karvonen, 1975], streptococci-related guttate psoriasis [Schoejim'M.vetal., 1974;Williams et al, 1976] and the humoral immune response to streptococcal antigens [Bertrams et al, 1974] have also been reported in psoriasis.…”

Interactions Between Non-Immune Host Cells and the Immune System During Periodontal Disease: Role of the Gingival Keratinocyte

“…Some studies show an increase in the proliferative response of PBLs isolated from patients with chronic plaque, but not guttate, psoriasis (Baker et al, 1991). Other reports, however, contradict these findings (Gross et al, 1977;Baker et al, 1994). The reasons for these differences are unclear and could be related to the different techniques used in the studies (Baker et al, 1994).…”