Absence of T(H)2 cytokine messenger RNA expression in CD30-Negative primary cutaneous large T-cell lymphomas

Background: Previous studies demonstrating that the neoplastic cells in Sez ary syndrome and tumor stage mycosis fungoides express interleukin 4 (IL-4) , IL-5, and IL-10 have resulted in the concept that cutaneous T-cell lympho mas are derived from CD4(+) T cells with a T(H)2 type cytokine profile. Objective: To determine the cytokine profile in CD30-primary cutaneous larg e T-cell lymphomas, which represent a subgroup of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma with an aggressive clinical behavior (5-year survival rate of 15%). Design and Methods: Seven biopsy specimens were taken from 4 patients with CD30(-) primary cutaneous large T-cell lymphomas and studied for the expres sion of T(H)1 (IL-2 and interferon gamma) and T(H)2 (IL-4, IL-5, IL-10) cyt okines using a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction technique. S kin biopsy specimens from patients with Sezary syndrome, mycosis fungoides. atopic dermatitis, or psoriasis were included as controls. Results: In the 7 CD30(-) primary cutaneous large T-cell lymphomas showing an almost pure population of large tumor cells (>90%), no expression of IL- 4 was found, and IL-4 was only found in 1 of 7 cases. In control biopsy spe cimens, expression of IL-4 and/or IL-5 was demonstrated in atopic dermatiti s (3/3), tumor stage mycosis fungoides (2/2), and Sezary syndrome (3/3), bu t not in plaque stage mycosis fungoides. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that CD30- primary cutaneous large T-ce ll lymphomas do not produce T(H)2 cytokines. illustrating that not all cuta neous T-cell lymphomas have a T(H)2 cytokine profile.