Background: Mycosis fungoides (MF) is the most common form of canine epitheliotropic cutaneous lymphoma, which is characterized by the accumulation of neoplastic CD8(+) T cells. Given that multifocal skin lesions are commonly seen in MF, neoplastic lymphocytes may actively migrate into the blood circulation.
Hypothesis/objectives: Cytotoxic T cells with a skin-homing phenotype could be increased in the blood circulation of dogs with MF.
Animals: Ten dogs with MF and 10 age-matched healthy dogs were included.
Methods: The transcription levels of chemokine receptors, cytokines and cytotoxic markers in peripheral blood of dogs with MF were quantified by real-time RT-PCR.
Results: The dogs with MF had lower transcription levels of chemokine receptors associated with skin homing (CCR4), epitheliotropism (CXCR3), lymph node homing (CCR7), a type-1 cytokine (LT-α) and cytotoxic markers (perforin and granzyme B) in the circulation than healthy control dogs (P < 0.05).
Conclusions and clinical importance: The present results suggest that the number of peripheral cytotoxic T cells with a skin-homing phenotype could be decreased in the peripheral blood of dogs with MF, which might be due to the sequestration of cytotoxic T cells in the lesional skin.
© 2013 ESVD and ACVD.