Suppressed Programmed Death 1 Expression on CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T Cells in Psoriatic Patients

Abstract

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease mediated by T cell immunity. Programmed death 1 (PD-1), a coinhibitory receptor, plays an important role in immune regulation and maintaining peripheral tolerance. The aim of the study was to compare the expression of PD-1 on the peripheral T cells between psoriatic patients and healthy controls. The study included 75 psoriatic patients and 52 healthy volunteers. The percentages and absolute numbers of CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD8⁺, CD4⁺PD-1⁺, and CD8⁺PD-1⁺ T cells were analyzed using flow cytometry. The absolute numbers and percentages of CD4⁺PD-1⁺ and CD8⁺PD-1⁺ T cells were significantly decreased in the psoriatic patients in comparison with the control group. No significant correlations were found between the absolute numbers and percentages of CD4⁺PD-1⁺ or CD8⁺PD-1⁺ T cells and clinical characteristics of psoriasis. Decreased PD-1 expression on the T cells may be responsible for impaired negative regulation of immune response in psoriasis pathogenesis.