T cell receptor diversity and activation markers in the V delta 1 subset of rheumatoid synovial fluid and peripheral blood T lymphocytes.
In the present study we have characterized the gamma/delta T cell receptor (TcR) population in synovial fluid (SF) and peripheral blood (PB) of patients with chronic inflammatory arthritis. By double staining we have shown that (a) synovial V delta 1+ cells have a high expression of activation markers CD45R0 ("memory cells") and HLA-DR as compared to PB, indicating a preactivated population of V delta 1-carrying T cells in vivo and (b) interleukin 2-induced expansion of synovial cells yields a high proportion of gamma/delta in most samples expressing predominantly the V delta 1 TcR. Junctional sequence analysis of the TcR delta chain from interleukin 2-expanded PB cell lines demonstrated a polyclonal V delta 1 population in three out of three samples. In SF cell lines three out of four samples were polyclonally expanded. In SF from one patient, however, a limited repertoire of expressed V delta 1 genes was found. Altogether, our data demonstrate the presence of preactivated V delta 1-expressing cells in the synovial compartment. This V delta 1 population is predominantly polyclonal, except in one patient where oligoclonally expanded V delta 1 cells were detected.
Bucht
A
A
Department of Pharmacology, Kabi Pharmacia AB, Autoimmunity, Uppsala, Sweden.
Söderström
K
K
Hultman
T
T
Uhlén
M
M
Nilsson
E
E
Kiessling
R
R
Grönberg
A
A
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D016694:Gene Rearrangement, delta-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D019012:Integrin beta1; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / Q000737:chemistry; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000235:genetics*; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000276:immunology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000502:physiology*
D015703:Antigens, CD; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens; D019012:Integrin beta1; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens