As. Gudmundsdottir et al., Is an epitope on keratin 17 a major target for autoreactive T lymphocytes in psoriasis?, CLIN EXP IM, 117(3), 1999, pp. 580-586
Psoriasis is a T cell-mediated inflammatory skin disease that has been asso
ciated with infections by group A beta-haemolytic streptococci. In a previo
us study of patients with active psoriasis we demonstrated an increased fre
quency of circulating Th1-like cells that responded to 20 amino acid (aa) s
treptococcal M-peptides sharing sequences with human keratin. These cells d
isappeared after ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced clinical remission. Using T ce
lls from the blood of 17 psoriatic patients and 17 healthy controls we have
now compared the numbers of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)-producing cells i
nduced by seven 18-20 aa keratin peptides and five corresponding M-peptides
. The most frequent and strongest responses were observed to a peptide from
keratin 17 that shares ALEEAN sequence with M-protein. The responses to th
is peptide were stronger than to the corresponding M-peptide containing the
ALEEAN sequence. After UVB treatment T cell responses to all the M- and ke
ratin peptides were abolished, while responses to the positive control anti
gen streptokinase/streptodornase (SK/SD) were not affected. These findings
are consistent with the notion that aa sequences which keratin has in commo
n with M-protein may be a major target for autoreactive T cells in psoriasi
s.