Biomedical subjects

C E Griffiths

Publications and source records attributed to C E Griffiths.

202 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

PubMed1985

The effects of topical treatment with steroids or dithranol on epidermal T lymphocytes and dendritic cells in psoriasis.

We describe the effects of treatment with topical steroids or dithranol on T and dendritic cells in the skin of patients with chronic plaque psoriasis. Resolution of lesions by both types of topical treatments was accompanied by a marked decrease in epidermal T cells. In steroid treated lesions there was also a reduction in DR+ dendritic cells to normal numbers during treatment and the rate of disappearance of both cell types correlated with the rate of resolution. However, a significant reduction of dendritic cells was not usually observed until after the T cells had almost disappeared from the epidermis and substantial healing of lesions had taken place. Dendritic cells in steroid-treated uninvolved skin had decreased to a lower level than in normal skin. In contrast, dithranol did not affect dendritic cells, either in lesional or in unaffected psoriatic epidermis. The decrease in dermal T cells observed with both treatments was more marked in steroid-treated lesions and correlated with resolution. However, blood T cells were unaffected by both treatments. The findings provide further support for the role of T cells in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.

Administration, Topical↗

PubMed1985

Epidermal T lymphocytes and dendritic cells in chronic plaque psoriasis: the effects of PUVA treatment.

The numbers and HLA-DR expression of T cell subsets and dendritic cells in chronic psoriatic plaques were compared to previously reported findings in spontaneously resolving guttate lesions, and the effects of PUVA treatment on these cell populations studied. The chronic lesions showed a similar T helper/T suppressor (TH/TS) ratio (0.66 +/- 0.10) to resolving guttate lesions. However, in contrast to the resolving lesions which do not contain activated epidermal TH cells, a substantial proportion of the TH cells in the persistent plaques were DR+. Moreover, these persistent lesions contained markedly increased numbers of DR+ dendritic cells, approximately 20% of which were T6 negative. PUVA-induced resolution of chronic lesions was associated with depletion of epidermal TH and TS cells, and a subsequent reduction in DR+ dendritic cells. In each patient the rate of disappearance of both cell types correlated with the rate of resolution. Furthermore, the epidermal T cell depletion preceded the onset of clinical improvement. In contrast, significant reduction of the dendritic cells was generally not observed until the lesions were largely resolved. Dendritic cells decreased faster in uninvolved than in lesional skin and to a subnormal level. Dermal T cells also decreased during PUVA therapy but this did not show any obvious correlation with resolution of the lesions. Blood T cell levels were not significantly affected by the treatment. These findings support the concept that the initiation and maintenance of the psoriatic process requires activation of TH cells in the epidermis via interaction with antigen presenting cells. Furthermore PUVA treatment may clear psoriasis by interfering with such a mechanism through its effects on T lymphocytes.

Adult↗

PubMed1985

Skin diseases and the dry eye.

Patients with oral cicatricial pemphigoid, who present to an oral medicine department, should be examined by an ophthalmologist because over 65 per cent have been found to have an asymptomatic cicatrising conjunctivitis. Early detection and treatment of these patients may help to slow down the scarring process that eventually leads to a dry eye and blindness. The same is true for a group of patients who present to the dermatologist with a non-scarring bullous dermatosis distinguished by the presence of a linear deposit of IgA along the dermo-epidermal junction of uninvolved skin examined by direct immunofluorescence. The cicatrising conjunctivitis found in about 50 per cent of adults with this condition is indistinguishable from that of cicatricial pemphigoid. Ten per cent of patients with cicatricial pemphigoid affecting mucous membranes alone were found to have linear deposits of IgA along the dermo-epidermal junction of uninvolved skin. This suggested that there may be a common pathogenic pathway with varying clinical expression in these groups of patients and presents new possibilities for therapy in some patients with cicatricial pemphigoid.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Investigation of cytomegalovirus and human herpes viruses 6 and 7 as possible causative antigens in psoriasis.

Psoriasis is probably a T-cell-mediated autoimmune disease. Infectious models of autoimmune diseases have been proposed and in psoriasis, it has been suggested that there may be molecular mimicry between streptococcal antigens and epidermal keratins. The immunological profile of stable psoriasis plaques suggests, however, that viral antigens may be important. We investigated, using polymerase chain reaction techniques, whether DNA from either cytomegalovirus (CMV) or human herpes viruses (HHV) 6 and 7 is present in the skin of patients (n = 10) with chronic plaque psoriasis. We also investigated 29 patients for the presence of serum IgG to CMV. We found no evidence of CMV or HHV 7 DNA in psoriasis plaques although DNA for HHV 6 was detected in both involved and uninvolved skin in 1 out of 10 patients. There was no statistically significant increase in prior CMV infection, as assessed by the presence or absence of serum IgG to CMV, in psoriasis, compared to our local population. Although there is circumstantial evidence that viral antigens may be important in the pathogenesis of psoriasis we found no evidence to link infection with CMV or HHV 6 and 7 with subsequent development of chronic plaque psoriasis.

Adult↗