T-cell receptor beta-chain gene rearrangements of T-cell populations expanded from multiple sites of synovial tissue obtained from a patient with rheumatoid arthritis.
In this study T-cell receptor (TcR) beta-chain gene rearrangements of T-cell lines prepared from multiple sites (n = 92) of synovial tissue derived from both knees of a patient with rheumatoid arthritis were analysed. In the majority of T-cell lines, dominant TcR beta-chain gene rearrangements were detected, involving C beta 1 as well as C beta 2. The dominant rearrangement patterns of T-cell lines from different tissue fragments showed significant variability, but some of the DNA restriction fragments were shared by T-cell lines from multiple sites in both knees. The latter observation suggests that identical T-cell clones may be present at different sites in the synovial tissue and in different joints. However, since many T-cell lines yielded different rearrangement patterns, these data also indicate considerable heterogeneity of T cells in the joints. Apart from theoretical implications, this TcR heterogeneity of T cells within an individual patient also has practical consequences for studies on synovial T cells obtained by biopsy.
van Laar
J M
JM
Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Leiden, The Netherlands.
Miltenburg
A M
AM
Verdonk
M J
MJ
Daha
M R
MR
de Vries
R R
RR
van den Elsen
P J
PJ
Breedveld
F C
FC
D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D002460:Cell Line; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D005260:Female; D015333:Gene Rearrangement, beta-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor; D006801:Humans; D007720:Knee Prosthesis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000276:immunology*; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000276:immunology*; D013585:Synovitis / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D004247:DNA