An abnormal T cell repertoire in hypergammaglobulinaemic primary Sjögren's syndrome.
T cell antigen specificity is determined by the products of the genes which encode the variable regions of their receptors. Of the T cell receptor (TCR) variable region gene products examined, only V beta 6.7a TCR-positive lymphocytes were reduced in primary Sjögren's syndrome patients with IgG1 hypergammaglobulinaemia compared with an age-, sex- and HLA-matched control population. The levels of V beta 6.7a T cells were also significantly reduced when these patients were compared with an age- and sex-matched but HLA-unmatched control group and non-tissue typed normal people of both sexes. Since published studies show no such abnormality in rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus or other autoimmune diseases, this abnormality may reflect a pathogenic process specific to primary Sjögren's syndrome.
Kay
R A
RA
Regional Immunology Service, St Mary's Hospital, Manchester, UK.
Hay
E M
EM
Dyer
P A
PA
Dennett
C
C
Green
L M
LM
Bernstein
R M
RM
Holt
P J
PJ
Pumphrey
R S
RS
Boylston
A W
AW
Ollier
W E
WE
D000328:Adult; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D006942:Hypergammaglobulinemia / Q000276:immunology*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000032:analysis; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D006680:HLA Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell