Distribution of T cell subsets and Langerhans cells in mycosis fungoides, and the effect of PUVA therapy.

Twenty-three patients with histologically proven mycosis fungoides (MF) were followed sequentially using cell marker studies to investigate the possibility of specific patterns of T cell and Langerhans cell (LC) involvement, Fifty-five skin biopsies, taken before and during PUVA therapy, were studied using monoclonal antibodies directed against T cell subsets. Both T-helper (T[SUBH]) and T-suppressor/cytotoxic (T[SUBH]) cells were present in all biopsies, and the epidermal infiltrate contained proportionally more T[SUBSC] than the dermal infiltrate. Epidermal LC members were counted in 60 biopsies and were increased in early disease but fell dramatically during PUVA; some biopsies had large numbers of dermal LC, usually in focal aggregates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]