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Striebich CC, Falta MT, Wang Y, Bill J, Kotzin BL. Selective Accumulation of Related CD4+ T Cell Clones in the Synovial Fluid of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 1998. [DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.161.8.4428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
The role of T cells in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), especially in the perpetuation of advanced disease, remains unclear. Previous studies have focused on the TCR repertoire of synovial T cells in an attempt to determine whether the pattern of expression is characteristic of Ag-stimulated populations. However, the results of past studies have been conflicting. In the present work, we have undertaken an extensive analysis of the TCRs expressed by CD4+ T cells freshly isolated from synovial fluid of different joints and blood in three patients with established RA. Despite marked heterogeneity of synovial TCR expression, the results showed that 20 to 30% of the TCR β-chain gene (TCRB) sequences found in one joint were also expressed in a second joint, but not in peripheral blood T cells of the same individual. Analysis of expressed TCRB complementarity-determining region 3 sequences showed the presence of multiple expanded clonal populations that were not predicted by quantitation of β-chain variable region (Vβ) expression by immunofluorescence staining. These studies also demonstrated sets of related, but different, complementarity-determining region 3 nucleotide sequences that encoded identical or highly homologous β-chain amino acid sequences. Analysis of matching T cell clones derived from the joint by limiting dilution culture confirmed coexpression of highly homologous TCR α-chain gene (TCRA) and TCRB sequences. Together, these studies suggest that a significant proportion of synovial CD4+ T cells has been selected and expanded by conventional Ag(s) in this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher C. Striebich
- *Departments of Medicine and Pediatrics, National Jewish Medical and Research Center, Denver, CO 80206
- ‡Medicine and
| | - Michael T. Falta
- *Departments of Medicine and Pediatrics, National Jewish Medical and Research Center, Denver, CO 80206
| | - Yi Wang
- *Departments of Medicine and Pediatrics, National Jewish Medical and Research Center, Denver, CO 80206
| | - Jerry Bill
- †NeXstar Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Boulder, CO 80301; and Departments of
| | - Brian L. Kotzin
- *Departments of Medicine and Pediatrics, National Jewish Medical and Research Center, Denver, CO 80206
- ‡Medicine and
- §Immunology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO 80262
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