Abstract
(179/200 words) Detailed analysis of cells infiltrating lesional skin cannot be performed in skin biopsy specimens by immunohistochemistry or cell separation techniques because small amounts of protein and minor cell populations in the biopsy specimen might be destroyed by enzyme treatment in the isolation step. Here, we describe a skin liquid biopsy method that enables T cell isolation in small amounts of lesional whole blood from patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Lesional blood, assumed to contain lesional resident cells, cells from capillary vessels, and blood overflowing from capillary vessels in the lesion area, was obtained during regular skin biopsy. The lesional blood showed substantial increases in distinct cell populations, chemokines, and expression of various genes. CD8 + CD45RO + T cells in the lesional blood negatively correlated with the modified severity-weighted assessment tool scores. CD4 + CD45RO + T cells in the lesional blood expressed genes associated with the development of cancer and progression of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. The skin liquid biopsy technique might provide new insight into the pathogenesis of mycosis fungoides and facilitate evaluation of the treatment efficacy for other skin inflammatory diseases.
257 Skin liquid biopsy method for assessing the immune environment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma lesions
