Exploring the role of the skin microenvironment in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma using single cell RNA-sequencing

Background: Mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sézary syndrome (SS) are the most frequent epidermotropic cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL), both originating from CD4+ lymphocytes. There is no curative treatment for these orphan diseases, healing is rare and 25% may progress to higher stage disease. Although the malignant and reactive lymphocytes were studied extensively, little is known about the role of the dermal-epidermal microenvironment in MF and SS. The group of Hodak et al proposed an important role of dermal fibroblasts, but our knowledge on other dermal components is poor.