Analysis of T cell receptors in rheumatoid arthritis: the increased expression of HLA-DR antigen on circulating gamma delta+ T cells is correlated with disease activity.
The phenotypic characteristics of peripheral blood T cells, isolated from 37 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and 17 healthy controls were determined with special emphasis on gamma delta+ T cells and CD4-CD8- alpha beta+ T cells. Two- and three-colour automated flow cytometry analyses were performed using a panel of MoAbs directed against differentiation antigens and T cell receptor molecules. The results demonstrated: (i) no significant difference between the percentages of CD4-CD8- alpha beta+ T cells in patients and controls; (ii) a significant decrease of the gamma delta+ T cell level in the peripheral blood of RA patients relative to controls; (iii) phenotypic abnormalities of circulating gamma delta+ T cells in RA patients suggestive of an activation status in vivo. These abnormalities included a significant reduction in the density of the T cell differentiation antigen CD3 and an increase in the expression of HLA-DR antigen. The level of circulating HLA-DR+/gamma delta+ T cells was significantly higher in patients with active disease. HLA-DR+/gamma delta+ T cells were also present in the synovial fluid obtained from three patients with an active disease. In addition, preliminary experiments showed that the activated gamma delta+ T cells were predominantly V delta 1. Taken together, these data support the involvement of gamma delta+ T cells in the pathogenesis of RA.
Lamour
A
A
Groupe de Recherche en Immunopathologie, Faculté de Médecine et de Pharmacie de Rouen, France.
Jouen-Beades
F
F
Lees
O
O
Gilbert
D
D
Le Loet
X
X
Tron
F
F
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000032:analysis; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000032:analysis*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta