The Skin Microbiome Stratifies Patients with Cutaneous T Cell Lymphoma and Determines Event-Free Survival

Mycosis fungoides (MF) is the most common entity of Cutaneous T cell lymphomas (CTCL) and is characterized by the presence of clonal malignant T cells in the skin. The role of the skin microbiome for MF development and progression are currently poorly understood. Using shotgun metagenomic profiling, real-time qPCR, and T cell receptor sequencing, we compared lesional and nonlesional skin of 20 MF patients with early and advanced MF. Additionally, we isolated Staphylococcus aureus and other bacteria from MF skin for functional profiling and to study the S. aureus virulence factor spa. We identified a subgroup of MF patients with substantial dysbiosis on MF lesions and concomitant outgrowth of S. aureus on plaque-staged lesions, while the other MF patients had a balanced microbiome on lesional skin. Dysbiosis and S. aureus outgrowth were accompanied by ectopic levels of cutaneous antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), including adaptation of the plaque-derived S. aureus strain. Furthermore, the plaque-derived S. aureus strain showed a reduced susceptibility towards antibiotics and an upregulation of the virulence factor spa, which may activate the NF-κB pathway. Remarkably, patients with dysbiosis on MF lesions had a restricted T cell receptor repertoire and significantly lower event-free survival. Our study highlights the potential for microbiome-modulating treatments targeting S. aureus to prevent MF progression.