Skip to main content

Functional Organization of the Skin as an Immune Response Organ: Skin, Immune Response, and Useful Immunohistochemistry

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Cutaneous Hematopathology

Abstract

This chapter describes properties of the skin which endow it with the ability to function as an immune response organ. Cellular constituents of the innate (nonspecific) and secondary (specific) immune responses in the skin are discussed. Lymphocyte trafficking which enables the immune response by interaction of lymphocyte surface molecules (addressins) and their cognate receptors in the skin and lymph node is presented. Helper T-cell subsets, the cytokines they produce, and cytokine receptors are outlined and illustrated. The significance of cytokines as therapeutic targets for cutaneous lymphomas and inflammatory diseases is emphasized. Topographical localization and interaction of specific cellular components of the immune response in inflammatory and neoplastic disorders are outlined. Finally, a table summarizing antibodies currently in use for the diagnosis and classification of cutaneous lymphomas and leukemias is included.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 249.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Alam MS, Maekawa Y, Kitamura A, Tanigaki K, Yoshimoto T, Kishihara K, et al. Notch signaling drives IL-22 secretion in CD4+ T cells by stimulating the aryl hydrocarbon receptor. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2010;107:5943–8.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Asarch A, Barak O, Loo DS, Gottlieb AB. Th17 cells: a new therapeutic target in inflammatory dermatoses. J Dermatolog Treat. 2008;19(6):318–26.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beetz S, Wesch D, Marischen L, Welte S, Oberg HH, Kabelitz D. Innate immune functions of human gamma delta T cells. Immunobiology. 2008;213(3–4):173–82.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beres AJ, Drobyski WR. The role of regulatory T cells in the biology of graft versus host disease. Front Immunol. 2013;4:163.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Berger CL, Hanlon D, Kanada D, Dhodapkar M, Lombillo V, Wang N, Christensen I, Howe G, Crouch J, El-Fishawy P, Edelson R. The growth of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma is stimulated by immature dendritic cells. Blood. 2002;99(8):2929–39.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ciree A, Michel L, Camilleri-Broet S, Jean LF, Oster M, Flageul B, Senet P, Fossiez F, Fridman WH, Bachelez H, Tartour E. Expression and activity of IL-17 in cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (mycosis fungoides and Sezary syndrome). Int J Cancer. 2004;112(1):113–20.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Clark RA. Skin-resident T, cells: the ups and downs of on site immunity. J Invest Dermatol. 2010;130(2):362–70.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Duhen T, Geiger R, Jarrossay D, Lanzavecchia A, Sallusto F. Production of interleukin 22 but not interleukin 17 by a subset of human skin-homing memory T cells. Nat Immunol. 2009;10:857–63.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ebert LM, Meuter S, Moser B. Homing and function of human skin gamma delta T cells and NK cells: relevance for tumor surveillance. J Immunol. 2006;176(7):4331–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Edelson RL. Cutaneous T, cell lymphoma: the helping hand of dendritic cells. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2001;941:1–11.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Egawa G, Honda T, Tanizaki H, Doi H, Miyachi Y, Kabashima K. In vivo imaging of T-cell motility in the elicitation phase of contact hypersensitivity using two-photon microscopy. J Invest Dermatol. 2011;131(4):977–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Egawa G, Kabashima K. Skin as a peripheral lymphoid organ: revisiting the concept of skin-associated lymphoid tissues. J Invest Dermatol. 2011;131(11):2178–85.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fuhlbrigge RC, Kieffer JD, Armerding D, Kupper TS. Cutaneous lymphocyte antigen is a specialized form of PSGL-1 expressed on skin-homing T cells. Nature. 1997;389(6654):978–81.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gebhardt T, Wakim LM, Eidsmo L, Reading PC, Heath WR, Carbone FR. Memory T cells in nonlymphoid tissue that provide enhanced local immunity during infection with herpes simplex virus. Nat Immunol. 2009;10(5):524–30.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gebhardt T, Whitney PG, Zaid A, Mackay LK, Brooks AG, Heath WR, Carbone FR, Mueller SN. Different patterns of peripheral migration by memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Nature. 2011;477(7363):216–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hocker TL, Wada DA, El-Azhary R, Gibson LE. Expression of T-cell receptor-gamma delta in normal human skin, inflammatory dermatoses and mycosis fungoides. J Cutan Pathol. 2012;39(4):419–24.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hoeller C, Richardson SK, Ng LG, Valero T, Wysocka M, Rook AH, Weninger W. In vivo imaging of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma migration to the skin. Cancer Res. 2009;69(7):2704–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Holtmeier W, Kabelitz D. gamma delta T cells link innate and adaptive immune responses. Chem Immunol Allergy. 2005;86:151–83.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kabelitz D. Function and specificity of human gamma/delta-positive T cells. Crit Rev Immunol. 1992;11(5):281–303.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kabelitz D. gamma delta T-cells: cross-talk between innate and adaptive immunity. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2011;68(14):2331–3.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kabelitz D, Glatzel A, Wesch D. Antigen recognition by human gamma delta T lymphocytes. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2000;122(1):1–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kabelitz D, Marischen L, Oberg HH, Holtmeier W, Wesch D. Epithelial defence by gamma delta T cells. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2005;137(1):73–81.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kadin ME, Nasu K, Sako D, Su IJ. Distinctive phorbol ester-induced morphological and surface antigen changes in mycosis fungoides, the Sezary syndrome, and adult T-cell leukemia. Cancer Res. 1984;44(8):3383–7.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kadin ME, Pavlov IY, Delgado JC, Vonderheid EC. High soluble CD30, CD25, and IL-6 may identify patients with worse survival in CD30+ cutaneous lymphomas and early mycosis fungoides. J Invest Dermatol. 2012;132(3 Pt 1):703–10.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kaplan DH, Jenison MC, Saeland S, Shlomchik WD, Shlomchik MJ. Epidermal langerhans cell-deficient mice develop enhanced contact hypersensitivity. Immunity. 2005;23(6):611–20.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kaplan DH, Kissenpfennig A, Clausen BE. Insights into Langerhans cell function from Langerhans cell ablation models. Eur J Immunol. 2008;38(9):2369–76.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kim EJ, Hess S, Richardson SK, Newton S, Showe LC, Benoit BM, Ubriani R, Vittorio CC, Junkins-Hopkins JM, Wysocka M, Rook AH. Immunopathogenesis and therapy of cutaneous T cell lymphoma. J Clin Invest. 2005;115(4):798–812.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Koga C, Kabashima K, Shiraishi N, Kobayashi M, Tokura Y. Possible pathogenic role of Th17 cells for atopic dermatitis. J Invest Dermatol. 2008;128(11):2625–30.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kunstfeld R, Lechleitner S, Groger M, Wolff K, Petzelbauer P. HECA-452+ T cells migrate through superficial vascular plexus but not through deep vascular plexus endothelium. J Invest Dermatol. 1997;108(3):343–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kupper TS, Edelson RL. The role of cytokines in the pathophysiology of T cell mediated skin disease. J Dermatol. 1987;14(6):517–23.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lechleitner S, Kunstfeld R, Messeritsch-Fanta C, Wolff K, Petzelbauer P. Peripheral lymph node addressins are expressed on skin endothelial cells. J Invest Dermatol. 1999;113(3):410–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Litvinov IV, Jones DA, Sasseville D, Kupper TS. Transcriptional profiles predict disease outcome in patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Clin Cancer Res. 2010;16(7):2106–14.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mackay CR, Kimpton WG, Brandon MR, Cahill RN. Lymphocyte subsets show marked differences in their distribution between blood and the afferent and efferent lymph of peripheral lymph nodes. J Exp Med. 1988;167(6):1755–65.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Maddur MS, Miossec P, Kaveri SV, Bayry J. Th17 cells: biology, pathogenesis of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, and therapeutic strategies. Am J Pathol. 2012;181(1):8–18.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Magro CM, Wang X. Indolent primary cutaneous gamma/delta T-cell lymphoma localized to the subcutaneous panniculus and its association with atypical lymphocytic lobular panniculitis. Am J Clin Pathol. 2012;138(1):50–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Matheu MP, Beeton C, Garcia A, Chi V, Rangaraju S, Safrina O, Monaghan K, Uemura MI, Li D, Pal S, De la Maza LM, Monuki E, Flugel A, Pennington MW, Parker I, Chandy KG, Cahalan MD. Imaging of effector memory T cells during a delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction and suppression by Kv1.3 channel block. Immunity. 2008;29(4):602–14.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Matutes E, Robinson D, O’Brien M, Haynes BF, Zola H, Catovsky D. Candidate counterparts of Sezary cells and adult T-cell lymphoma-leukaemia cells in normal peripheral blood: an ultrastructural study with the immunogold method and monoclonal antibodies. Leuk Res. 1983;7(6):787–801.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Merz H, Fliedner A, Orscheschek K, Binder T, Sebald W, Muller-Hermelink HK, et al. Cytokine expression in T-cell lymphomas and Hodgkin’s disease. Its possible implication in autocrine or paracrine production as a potential basis for neoplastic growth. Am J Pathol. 1991;139:1173–80.

    CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Meyerson HJ, Awadallah A, Pavlidakey P, Cooper K, Honda K, Miedler J. Follicular center helper T-cell (TFH) marker positive mycosis fungoides/Sezary syndrome. Mod Pathol. 2013;26:32–43.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Miossec P, Korn T, Kuchroo VK. Interleukin-17 and type 17 helper T cells. N Engl J Med. 2009;361(9):888–98.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pelletier M, Maggi L, Micheletti A, Lazzeri E, Tamassia N, Costantini C, et al. Evidence for a cross-talk between human neutrophils and Th17 cells. Blood. 2010;115:335–43.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reinhold U, Herpertz M, Kukel S, Oltermann I, Uerlich M, Kreysel HW. Induction of nuclear contour irregularity during T-cell activation via the T-cell receptor/CD3 complex and CD2 antigens in the presence of phorbol esters. Blood. 1994;83(3):703–6.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rodriguez Pinilla SM, Roncador G, Rodriguez-Peralto JL, Mollejo M, Garcia JF, Montes-Moreno S, et al. Primary cutaneous CD4+ small/medium-sized pleomorphic T-cell lymphoma expresses follicular T-cell markers. Am J Surg Pathol. 2009;33:81–90.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Saed G, Fivenson DP, Naidu Y, Nickoloff BJ. Mycosis fungoides exhibits a Th1-type cell-mediated cytokine profile whereas Sezary syndrome expresses a Th2-type profile. J Invest Dermatol. 1994;103(1):29–33.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schaerli P, Ebert L, Willimann K, Blaser A, Roos RS, Loetscher P, Moser B. A skin-selective homing mechanism for human immune surveillance T cells. J Exp Med. 2004;199(9):1265–75.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Streilein JW. Lymphocyte traffic, T-cell malignancies and the skin. J Invest Dermatol. 1978;71(3):167–71.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Streilein JW. Skin-associated lymphoid tissues (SALT): origins and functions. J Invest Dermatol. 1983;80(Suppl):12s–616.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Streilein JW. Circuits and signals of the skin-associated lymphoid tissues (SALT). J Invest Dermatol. 1985;85(1 Suppl):10s–313.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Streilein JW. Skin-associated lymphoid tissue. Immunol Ser. 1989;46:73–96.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Streilein JW, Bergstresser PR. Langerhans cells: antigen presenting cells of the epidermis. Immunobiology. 1984;168(3–5):285–300.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tomura M. Visualization of cellular dynamics in the entire body using the photoconvertible protein “Kaede” of transgenic mice. Seikagaku. 2012;84(3):195–202.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tomura M, Yoshida N, Tanaka J, Karasawa S, Miwa Y, Miyawaki A, Kanagawa O. Monitoring cellular movement in vivo with photoconvertible fluorescence protein “Kaede” transgenic mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008;105(31):10871–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vowels BR, Lessin SR, Cassin M, Jaworsky C, Benoit B, Wolfe JT, Rook AH. Th2 cytokine mRNA expression in skin in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. J Invest Dermatol. 1994a;103(5):669–73.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vowels MR, Tiedemann K, Lam-Po-Tang R, Tucker DP. Use of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in two children treated with cord blood transplantation. Blood Cells. 1994b;20(2–3):249–54.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wakim LM, Gebhardt T, Heath WR, Carbone FR. Cutting edge: local recall responses by memory T cells newly recruited to peripheral nonlymphoid tissues. J Immunol. 2008;181(9):5837–41.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wasik MA, Vonderheid EC, Bigler RD, Marti R, Lessin SR, Polansky M, Kadin ME. Increased serum concentration of the soluble interleukin-2 receptor in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Clinical and prognostic implications. Arch Dermatol. 1996;132(1):42–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wolk K, Haugen HS, Xu W, Witte E, Waggie K, Anderson M, Vom BE, Witte K, Warszawska K, Philipp S, Johnson-Leger C, Volk HD, Sterry W, Sabat R. IL-22 and IL-20 are key mediators of the epidermal alterations in psoriasis while IL-17 and IFN-gamma are not. J Mol Med (Berl). 2009;87(5):523–36.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou L, Lopes JE, Chong MM, Ivanov II, Min R, Victora GD, et al. TGF-beta-induced Foxp3 inhibits T(H)17 cell differentiation by antagonizing RORgammat function. Nature. 2008;453:236–40.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou L, Chong MM, Littman DR. Plasticity of CD4+ T cell lineage differentiation. Immunity. 2009;30:646–55.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marshall E. Kadin MD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Kadin, M.E., Cualing, H.D. (2014). Functional Organization of the Skin as an Immune Response Organ: Skin, Immune Response, and Useful Immunohistochemistry. In: Cualing, H., Kadin, M., Hoang, M., Morgan, M. (eds) Cutaneous Hematopathology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0950-6_2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0950-6_2

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-0949-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-0950-6

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics