title: Immunoglobulin V genes in rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Recent studies have revealed that a broad spectrum of Ig V genes (VH, V kappa, V lambda) contribute to the rheumatoid factor (RF) and non-RF produced by B cells in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This result contrasts with the restricted V gene use of paraprotein IgM RF. Certain VH and VL genes, however, appear more often in RA than expected from random expression, including some of the paraprotein-associated V genes. Many V genes expressed in RA are the same as those found in the fetal/CD5+ repertoire, suggesting an important role for CD5+ B cells in RA. Somatic mutations suggest that the B-cell response in RA is at least in part antigen-driven, although many Ig in RA have little or no mutation. Improved detection of V-gene polymorphisms now enable study of Ig V gene RFLP in RA.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle.
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Sasso
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000235:genetics*; D005796:Genes; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes / Q000235:genetics; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000235:genetics*; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000235:genetics; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012016:Reference Values; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor