T Cells Promote Distinct Transcriptional Programs of Cutaneous Inflammatory Disease in Keratinocytes and Dermal Fibroblasts

The study explores how T cells influence gene expression in keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts, affecting cutaneous inflammatory diseases like psoriasis and scleroderma. It finds that CD4+CLA+ T-cell populations induce specific gene expressions, with T helper 17 cells affecting keratinocyte genes linked to psoriasis, which can be normalized with anti–IL-17 therapy. A transcriptional module from CD103+ skin-resident T cells is present in healthy skin but reduced in psoriasis and scleroderma. The research underscores the significance of understanding T-cell subsets and their gene expressions to distinguish between inflamed and healthy skin and to assess patient responses to biologic therapies.