Characterization of inflammatory cell infiltrate of scleroderma skin: B cells and skin score progression.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:The purpose of this study was to investigate the frequency and the distribution of inflammatory cell infiltrate in two sets of cutaneous biopsies derived from clinically affected and unaffected skin in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and to test correlation between the cell infiltrate and the progression of skin involvement. METHODS:Skin was immunohistochemically assessed to identify CD68, CD3, CD20 and CD138-positive (+) cells in clinically affected and unaffected skin in 28 patients with SSc. Patients were followed for 6 months and the characteristics of the infiltrate were analyzed according to disease duration, clinical features and skin involvement progression. RESULTS:In all SSc cutaneous specimens, cellular infiltrates were found in a perivascular location predominantly in the mid and deeper portions of the dermis. All the analyzed biopsies showed a CD3+ and CD68+ cell infiltrate and the mean number of CD3+ and of CD68+ cells was higher in clinically involved skin (CD3+, 71.7 ± 34.6 and CD68+, 26.3 ± 8.4, respectively) than in clinically uninvolved skin (CD3+, 45.7 ± 36.0 and CD68+, 13.6 ± 6.1, respectively) (p

SUBMITTER: Bosello S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5907298 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature