IL-15 and IL-23 synergize to trigger Th17 response by CLA+ T cells in psoriasis

IL-15 has emerged as a potentially relevant target in the IL-17 response in psoriasis. However, its mechanism is poorly characterized in humans. IL-15 and IL-23 are constitutively expressed in the psoriatic lesion. Also, IL-15 is considered a susceptibility-associated gene in psoriasis, as are IL-23R, and HLACW6. Here, we studied the effect of IL-15 and IL-23 stimulation on the cytokine response of CLA+/CLA- T cells from 9 psoriasis patients and 3 healthy control subjects. To this end, CLA + and CLA- T cells from blood samples were cultured with epidermal cells from skin biopsies and treated with IL-15 and IL-23. After five days of culture, cytokines in supernatant were measured by ELISA or fluorescent bead-based immunoassay. There was a statistically significant increase in IL-17F and IL-17A production (P < .001) in cocultures of psoriasis skin-homing CLA + T cells with epidermal cells when stimulated with IL-15 and IL-23, but this effect was not observed in the cells of healthy controls. Interestingly, this response was reduced by around 50 to 80% by blocking HLA class I and II molecules. Our results point to the synergic action of IL-15 and IL-23 selectively for CLA + cells in psoriasis, leading to the induction of Th17 cell-related cytokines.

Diagnostic accuracy of pigmented labial macules by in vivo reflectance confocal microscopy and correlation among techniques

BACKGROUND

Pigmented labial macules (PLMs) are clinical, dermoscopic, and histopathologic challenges.

OBJECTIVE

To describe and evaluate the utility of reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) in PLMs and to establish a correlation between dermoscopy, RCM, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry.

METHODS

Prospective study of PLMs from 4 tertiary referral dermatology centers. The study included 51 biopsy specimen-proven PLMs. Dermoscopic, RCM images, and histopathologic preparations were evaluated for malignant criteria. Diagnostic accuracy of RCM for melanoma diagnosis, RCM Lip Score previously reported, and κ values between techniques were calculated.

RESULTS

Included were 5 melanomas and 46 benign PLMs. Dermoscopically, melanomas exhibited more frequently ≥3 colors and ≥3 structures. With RCM, pagetoid spreading, epithelial disarray, continuous proliferation of atypical cells around papillae, nonhomogeneously distributed papillae, marked cellular atypia, and a higher number of dendritic cells per papillae were more frequent in melanomas. The RCM Lip Score was significantly higher in malignant lesions. Good κ values were observed in most of the evaluated features. A perfect sensitivity and specificity was obtained combining dermoscopy and RCM.

LIMITATIONS

A low number of melanomas were obtained.

CONCLUSIONS

RCM improves lip melanoma diagnosis, and the RCM Lip Score represents a useful tool for the evaluation of a PLM.

Stüve-Wiedemann syndrome with multiple eruptive vellus hair cysts and clefted tongue

Stüve-Wiedemann syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive congenital primary skeletal dysplasia, characterized by small stature, bowed long bones, joint restrictions, hyperthermic episodes, dysautonomia, and respiratory and feeding difficulties, that usually leads to early mortality. Cutaneous manifestations have rarely been reported. We report the case of a girl with Stüve-Wiedemann syndrome presenting with progressive development of multiple eruptive vellus hair cysts.

Translation and Cultural Adaptation of the German Mastocytosis Quality of Life Questionnaire (MC-QoL) into Spanish

BACKGROUND

Mastocytosis encompasses a spectrum of disorders in which different organs and tissues are affected by the clonal expansion of mast cells. The skin is one of the most frequently affected organs. The clinical manifestations of mastocytosis are linked to the release of proinflammatory mediators, and the impact of this disorder on patient quality of life has been described in various studies. The Mastocytosis Quality of Life Questionnaire (MC-QoL), which was recently developed in Germany and now also exists in English, is an important tool for evaluating the psychosocial impact of this disease.

OBJECTIVE

To create a Spanish version of the MC-QoL that was culturally equivalent to the original German questionnaire.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The adaptation process, which involved forward translation, cognitive interviews, and back translation, was conducted in accordance with the principles of good practice for the translation and cultural adaptation of patient-reported measures of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research. The MC-QoL contains 27 items in 4 domains: symptoms, emotions, social life/functioning, and skin.

RESULTS

The first version of the Spanish questionnaire, obtained by forward translation from German, was tested in cognitive interviews, after which 3 items were modified to make them easier to understand. The German back translation of the Spanish questionnaire was analyzed by the authors of the original MC-QoL, who modified 1 item they considered to have lost specificity in the adaptation process. The definitive Spanish MC-QoL was then produced following minor modifications agreed on with the German authors.

CONCLUSION

We have produced a cultural adaptation of the MC-QoL in Spanish that can be used in routine clinical practice to obtain a more complete picture of the impact of mastocytosis on patient quality of life.

Specific IgA and CLA+ T-Cell IL-17 Response to Streptococcus pyogenes in Psoriasis

Streptococcus pyogenes tonsillar infection is well known to trigger and exacerbate psoriasis lesions in both guttate and plaque forms of the disease. Although mucosal and cutaneous tissues are closely involved in psoriasis pathology, the interaction between their specific immune responses has not been deeply explored. This work aims to address and characterize the presence of humoral responses against S. pyogenes in patients with psoriasis and its putative association with cytokine responses detected in vitro in our psoriasis ex vivo model, based on the coculture of cutaneous lymphocyte-associated antigen^+/- T cells with autologous epidermal cells. Patients with psoriasis presented increased IgA response to S. pyogenes when compared with control subjects. In patients with plaque psoriasis, despite being negative for anti-streptolysin O antibody titer, IgA plasma levels against S. pyogenes correlated with cutaneous lymphocyte-associated antigen⁺ T-cell-dependent IL-17F response in vitro. No association is observed for IgG levels in plaque psoriasis. Similar association is observed for IgA anti-S. pyogenes extract and IL-17A in patients with guttate psoriasis. We propose S. pyogenes-specific IgA as a potential new perspective for better understanding the role of S. pyogenes in psoriasis development.

Acquired Cold Urticaria vs. Autoinflammatory Diseases, Genetic and Clinical Profile and Differential Diagnosis: Study of a Cohort of Patients in a Tertiary Reference Centre

Acquired cold urticaria (ACU) is characterized by the development of itchy wheals after cold exposure. Generalized urticarial skin rashes triggered by cold exposure characterize certain monogenic autoinflammatory diseases (AIDs). The objective of this study is to investigate the presence of variants in genes causing AIDs that present with cold-induced urticarial skin rashes in patients clinically diagnosed with ACU, in order to look for susceptibility factors for the disease. Fifty patients with primary ACU were studied. Germline and post-zygotic variants on the NLRP3, NLRP12, NLRC4 and PLCG2 genes were investigated using next-generation sequencing technology. Seven patients (14%) carried 8 heterozygous germline variants in the following genes: NLRP3 (n = 1), NLRP12 (n = 3), NLRC4 (n = 1), PLCG2 (n = 3). No pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants were detected, and deep analyses of the sequences obtained did not identify any post-zygotic variant. In conclusion, ACU is not related to post-zygotic or germline pathogenic variants in the NLRP3, NLRP12, NLRC4 and PLCG2 genes.

Prognostic factors in patients with primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma: a multicentric, retrospective analysis of the Spanish Group of Cutaneous Lymphoma

BACKGROUND

Reliable prognostic factors for patients with primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma (PCALCL) are lacking.

OBJECTIVE

To identify prognostic factors for specific survival in patients with PCALCL.

METHODS

Using the convenience sampling method, patients with PCALCL diagnosed from May 1986 to August 2017 in 16 University Departments were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

One hundred eight patients were included (57 males). Median age at diagnosis was 58 years. All of them showed T1-3N0M0 stages. Seventy per cent of the cases presented with a solitary lesion, mostly at the limbs. Complete response rate after first-line treatment was 87%, and no advantage was observed for any of them (surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy or other approaches). Nodal and visceral progression rate was 11% and 2%, respectively. 5-year specific survival (SSV) reached 93%; 97% for T1 patients and 84% for T2/T3 patients (P = 0.031). Five-year SSV for patients developing early cutaneous relapse was 64%; for those with late or no relapse, 96% (P = 0.001). Estimated median SSV for patients showing nodal progression was 103 months (95% CI: 51-155 months); for patients without nodal progression, estimated SSV did not reach the median (P < 0.001). Nodal progression was an independent predictive parameter for shorter survival (P = 0.011).

CONCLUSION

Multiple cutaneous lesions at presentation, early skin relapse and nodal progression portrait worse prognosis in patients with PCALCL.

Patients with Moderate to Severe Psoriasis Associate with Higher Risk of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms: Results of a Multivariate Study of 300 Spanish Individuals with Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease associated with considerable physical and psychological comorbidities. Stress and emotional disturbances have been implicated in both triggering the onset and exacerbation of psoriasis. In order to determine the level of perceived stress and mood alterations in patients with psoriasis and their association with disease severity, 300 individuals completed diverse validated questionnaires assessing stress and psychological mood. Evaluation of perception of disease was also measured. A significant association between psoriasis severity and mood, emotional disturbances and an impact on assessments of the quality of life were observed. Particularly, Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale, Hamilton Rating Scale and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale for Depression detected a significant risk for depression in relation to the disease severity. The association between depression features, anxiety and perceived stress with psoriasis severity is important and can influence the appropriate management of psoriasis.

Rapidly Growing and Aggressive Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinomas in a Patient Treated with Ruxolitinib

Ruxolitinib is a Janus kinase (JAK)1 and JAK2 inhibitor approved for the treatment of myelofibrosis and for polycythemia patients who are resistant or intolerant to hydroxyurea. We report a 72 year-old man patient with polycythemia vera who developed multiple cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (cSCCs) with keratoacanthoma-like histological features while on treatment with ruxolitinib. Similar lesions have been reported in an isolated patient who also received ruxolitinib. Our case confirms that ruxolitinib may induce eruptive cSCCs with characteristic clinical and histological features that differentiate them from conventional non-drug induced lesions. Moreover, we performed a mutational panel analysis of the tumors. The lack of specific mutations in these tumors suggests an impairment of immunosurveillance in the origin of the cutaneous lesions. Frequent and thorough dermatological examinations in patients receiving ruxolitinib with a history of photodamage, skin cancer and/or previous hydroxyurea intake is thus recommended.

Relevance of the Basophil High-Affinity IgE Receptor in Chronic Urticaria: Clinical Experience from a Tertiary Care Institution

BACKGROUND

The high-affinity IgE receptor (FcεRI) expression on effector cells has been poorly characterized in patients with chronic urticaria (CU) to date.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the FcεRI expression on blood basophils in a large cohort of patients with CU and its potential relationship with relevant features of the disease.

METHODS

Basophil FcεRI expression was measured by flow cytometry in 287 patients with CU (192 with chronic spontaneous urticaria and 95 with chronic inducible urticaria) at their initial evaluation in our department. A control group of healthy nonatopic individuals was included to provide reference data, and the effect of antihistamine and anti-IgE therapy on the basophil FcεRI expression was also evaluated in a cohort of patients with CU.

RESULTS

The median FcεRI expression was found significantly higher in patients with CU compared with healthy controls (P < .0001). A positive correlation was found between serum IgE levels and basophil FcεRI expression (R = 0.422; P < .001). Significantly higher FcεRI levels on basophils were detected in patients with CU who presented with concomitant atopic features (P = .003), negative autologous serum skin test (P = .002), negative autologous plasma skin test (P = .009), or undetected levels of antithyroid antibodies (P = 0.01). Baseline FcεRI expression was not related to the activity and duration of the disease, and was not significantly modified during antihistamine therapy; however, it correlated with the clinical response to omalizumab (P = .003).

CONCLUSIONS

Although further multicenter studies are needed to corroborate these findings, the assessment of basophil FcεRI levels might be relevant in daily clinical practice supporting an autoimmune pathogenesis and predicting response to anti-IgE treatment.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Non-melanocytic Pink Flat Skin Lesions on the Legs: Dermoscopic and Reflectance Confocal Microscopy Evaluation

Pink flat skin lesions on the legs in elderly people represent a diagnostic challenge due to the paucity of clinical and dermoscopic evidence. A prospective study of 114 pink flat lesions on the legs of 85 elderly patients was performed to describe the utility of reflectance confocal microscopy in this clinical context. Evaluation of clinical, dermoscopic and confocal parameters and calculation of diagnostic accuracy/sensitivity/specificity for non-melanoma skin cancer diagnosis of each technique were carried out. Thirty-four benign and 80 malignant neoplasms were analysed. A correct clinical diagnosis was established in 49.1% of cases (sensitivity 68.7%, specificity 73.5%). Dermoscopy achieved 59.6% correct diagnosis (sensitivity 85%, specificity 67.6%) and confocal microscopy evaluation after clinical and dermoscopic evaluation rendered a correct diagnosis in 85.1% of cases (sensitivity 97.5%, specificity 88.2%). Confocal microscopy may improve diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity and specificity as a secondary evaluation after dermoscopy. A diagnostic confocal algorithm for pink flat lesions on the legs is proposed.

A Myxoid Fibrotic Reaction Pattern is Associated with Metastatic Risk in Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Although desmoplasia has been associated with poor prognoses in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, little attention has been paid to the patterns of fibrosis. This study aimed to examine the different stromal fibrotic patterns as markers of metastatic risk. We performed a multicenter retrospective study that included 102 cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (52 non-metastatic and 50 metastatic carcinomas). Clinical and histopathological data were registered. The fibrotic reaction pattern was classified as mature, intermediate or immature depending on the presence of keloid-like collagen and myxoid stroma. The immature pattern (areas characterized by myxoid changes with no inflammation) was observed in 18 samples and its presence was significantly associated with immunosuppression, budding, desmoplasia, perineural invasion, anatomic level, tumoural depth and metastatic risk in the multivariate analysis. Our findings suggest that the presence of an immature myxoid fibrotic pattern, which can be easily identified by routine hematoxylin-eosin staining, is strongly associated with metastatic risk.

Initial results of ixekizumab efficacy and safety in real-world plaque psoriasis patients: a multicentre retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Ixekizumab (anti-IL17A) is effective as treatment for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, but real-life data on effectiveness and safety are currently very limited.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ixekizumab in a cohort of real-life plaque psoriasis patients.

METHODS

Retrospective chart review of 100 patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis treated with ixekizumab at seven Spanish dermatological centres.

RESULTS

According to the as observed analysis, the percentage of patients achieving a 75% and 90% of reduction from the baseline score of Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) was 87.5%-50.0% at week 12-16; 88.3%-58.4% at week 24 and 82.9%-58.5% at week 52, respectively. The mean ± standard deviation (SD) score of PASI at baseline was 12.9 ± 9.2, and it declined rapidly after ixekizumab administration to 1.9 ± 4.0 (P < 0.001) at week 12-16 and was maintained at 1.7 ± 4.1 and 1.8 ± 2.9 at week 24 and 52, respectively. Ixekizumab response was not affected by clinical variables like body mass index, disease duration or the presence of psoriatic arthritis. However, the bio-naive group showed significantly higher PASI 75 response rate at week 12-16 compared to patients previously exposed to biologic agents (P = 0.037). Twenty-six (26%) patients experienced adverse events (AEs) during the follow-up period, being most of them of mild-to-moderate intensity. The most common AE was local reaction at the site of injection (14/26; 53.8%). At the end of the observational period, 15 (15%) patients discontinued ixekizumab treatment due to limited clinical improvement (n = 11), adverse events (n = 3) or lost to follow-up (n = 1) within a mean ± SD time of 6.0 ± 3.9 months.

CONCLUSION

The present study illustrates the initial experience with ixekizumab in real-world clinical practice confirming its usefulness and safety in the management of plaque psoriasis patients.

The natural history of cutaneous sarcoidosis. Clinical spectrum and histological analysis of 40 cases

BACKGROUND

Cutaneous lesions of sarcoidosis can allow physicians to establish the diagnosis of a systemic disease, but the need of monitoring patients presenting skin limited sarcoidosis in order to detect further extracutaneous involvement has rarely been evaluated.

OBJECTIVES

To review clinical and histological features of patients with cutaneous sarcoidosis and the risk of progression to systemic disease. To characterize the phenotype of patients with isolated cutaneous sarcoidosis and to assess the temporal relationship between cutaneous and systemic disease.

METHODS

Retrospective review of a series of patients with cutaneous sarcoidosis. Clinical, histopathological, and evolutive features were reviewed.

RESULTS

Forty patients were included in the study. Systemic disease was present in 82.5% of patients. Previous or concurrent cutaneous involvement occurred in 81.8% of them. Seven out of 14 patients with cutaneous lesions evolved to a systemic sarcoidosis in a mean time of 6 years, with a range between 4 and 9 years. No clinical or histological differences were found between patients with systemic sarcoidosis and those who showed persistent isolated cutaneous lesions.

CONCLUSIONS

Sarcoidosis may be manifested as an isolated cutaneous disorder. No clinical or histopathological features seem to be helpful to discriminate cases of a persistent isolated cutaneous disease from those that will develop systemic involvement. Since the development of systemic involvement in cases of isolated cutaneous sarcoidosis can occur many years afterward, careful monitoring seems advisable, and a long follow-up is recommended.

Inflammatory linear verrucous epidermal nevus associated with erosive monoarthritis

Inflammatory linear verrucous epidermal nevus and linear psoriasis are different entities with clinical and histopathologic similarities. Isolated reports of inflammatory linear verrucous epidermal nevus with concomitant psoriasis or a positive family history of psoriasis have been described, and the possibility that inflammatory linear verrucous epidermal nevus may be a mosaic form of cutaneous psoriasis has been postulated. We report a 17-year-old boy with a congenital, linear, erythematous, keratotic plaque on the dorsum of the fifth finger of the left hand with ipsilateral nail dystrophy. Histopathologic examination showed epidermal hyperplasia with alternating orthokeratosis and parakeratosis. During follow-up, he developed erosive monoarthritis of the distal interphalangeal joint. This case seems to confirm the association between inflammatory linear verrucous epidermal nevus and arthritis and supports a possible relationship between inflammatory linear verrucous epidermal nevus and psoriasis.