Bröker BM, Korthäuer U, Heppt P, Weseloh G, de la Camp R, Kroczek RA, Emmrich F. Biased T cell receptor V gene usage in rheumatoid arthritis. Oligoclonal expansion of T cells expressing V alpha 2 genes in synovial fluid but not in peripheral blood.
ARTHRITIS AND RHEUMATISM 1993;
36:1234-43. [PMID:
8216417 DOI:
10.1002/art.1780360908]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the T cell receptor (TCR) variable (V) region gene usage in the rheumatoid joint.
METHODS
Monoclonal antibodies (MAb) were used to determine the prevalence of selected V elements on T cells in synovial fluid (SF) from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and in peripheral blood (PB) from RA patients and normal controls. V alpha 2-positive PB and SF T cells from 1 patient were cloned by immediate limiting-dilution and analyzed by restriction mapping.
RESULTS
In 9 of 14 RA patients, SF was enriched in at least 1 of the selected V elements, compared with PB. TCR genes of the V alpha 2 family were the most frequently overrepresented in the SF (4 patients). The expanded V alpha 2-positive cells were oligoclonal in SF but heterogeneic in PB.
CONCLUSION
Our data showing biased and clonally restricted TCR elements in the rheumatoid joint indicate major histocompatibility complex-restricted antigen recognition, rather than a "superantigen," in the pathogenesis of RA.
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