Indian Journal of Dermatology (Jan 2007)
Pan B and T cell markers in cutaneous tuberculosis: An immunohistochemical study
Abstract
Histopathology of tuberculosis and leprosy is expected to correlate with the clinical and gross pathological aspects of the disease. However, this may not be the case, particularly in tuberculosis. This reflects our inadequate interpretation of the cellular events in tissues. The advent of immunocytochemistry for finding the cell types in lesions and some of their functions have helped in the interpretation of these changes. Immunocytochemical studies using monoclonal antibodies have shown consistent relationship between histology and lymphocyte organization in leprosy, a related mycobacterial disease. The study of the patterns of cellular responses in the granuloma per se from the different clinical expressions of tuberculosis is essential to comprehend the different immunopathogenic mechanisms in each. CD stands for cluster designation and is a nomenclature for the identification of specific cell surface antigens defined as monoclonal antibodies. This procedure can be applied to both formalin-fixed and frozen tissues. It is very helpful in identifying subpopulations of T and B cell lymphocytes. CD3 T cell is marked by receptors for antigen recognition, while CD20 is meant for Pan B cells and dendritic cells. Since CMI is the preeminent immune response to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, interaction of antigen-presenting cells with antigen specific B and T lymphocytes is of paramount importance, which should be accompanied by cytokine production and liberation. The present study is undertaken for evaluating the cell types in lesions of cutaneous tuberculosis and some of their functions using B and T cell markers.
