Increase in TNF-α and inducible nitric oxide synthase-expressing dendritic cells in psoriasis and reduction with efalizumab (anti-CD 11 a).

We find that CD11c⁺ cells with many markers of dendritic cells (DCs) are a major cell type in the skin lesions of psoriasis. These CD11c⁺ cells, which are evident in both epidermis and dermis, are the sites for the expression of two mediators of inflammation, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and TNF-α in diseased skin. These cells express HLA-DR, CD40, and CD86, lack the Langerin and CD14 markers of Langerhans cells and monocytes, respectively, and to a significant extent express the DC maturation markers DC- LAMP and CD83. Treatment of psoriasis with efalizumab (anti- CD11a, Raptiva) strongly reduces infiltration by these DCs in patients responding to this agent. Disease activity after therapy was more related to DC infiltrates and iNOS mRNA levels than T cell infiltrates, and CD11c⁺ cells responded more quickly to therapy than epidermal keratinocytes. Our results suggest that a type of DC, which resembles murine "Tip-DC5" that can accumulate during infection, has proinflammatory effects in psoriasis through nitric oxide and TNF-α production, and can be an important target for suppressive therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]