Analysis of Mechanisms by Which T Cells Migrate to the Epidermis

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We previously established murine T cell clones with special tropism the epidermis both in vitro in vivo. Using these T cell clones, we attempted to elucidate the mechanisms by which certain T cells preferentially migrate to the epidemis.1. To determine which cell adhesion molecules are involved in epidermotrpoism of T cells, the expression of rariaus T-cell surface molecules on epidermotropic and non-epidermotropic T cell clones was examined by flow cytometric analysis. The results showed that LFA-1 was preferentially expressed on the surface of epidermotropic T cell clones, while non-epidermotropic T cell clones were negative or weakly positive for LFA-1.2. These epidermotropic T cells showed directional migration toward the epidermis in an in vitro migration assay under agar gel. Antibody inhibition studies demonstrated that of various mAb to T-cell surface molecules only anti-LEA-1 mAb completely inhibited the in vitro migartion of the T cells toward the epidermis. These findings indicate that the LFA-1 also plays an important role in directing T cell migration to the epidermis.3. It was found that epidermal structures that had spontaneously recovered from the destruction induced by inteademal injection of the epidermotropic T cells became resistant to subsequent attempts to induce the destruction by the T cells. This resistance correlated well with the great increase in Thy 1^+ epidermal cell numbers. The resistance was never induced in athymic nude mice and adult thymectomized mice. The expansion of the Thy 1^+ EC that mature in thymus would be crucial to the induction of the resistance.