T-cell activation is potentiated by cytokines relased by lesional psoriatic, but not normal, epidermis

Background and Design.-T-cell activation appears to be critical for the maintenance of psoriatic lesions. In this study, we determined whether cytokines released by epidermal cells from psoriatic lesions are providing signals that result in propagation of intralesional T-cell activation. Supernatants were obtained from epidermal cell cultures derived from skin biopsy specimens of psoriatic patients and normal subjects. These supernatants were added to purified normal CD4 + T cells activated via T-cell receptor (immobilized anti-CD3 and fibronectin) or via other activating pathways (anti-CDW60 or UM4D4)