title: Gamma/delta T cell receptor positive T cells in the inflammatory joint: lack of association with response to soluble antigens.
abstract: In patients with inflammatory synovitis, the proliferative response by lymphocytes from synovial fluid to soluble mycobacterial antigens is enhanced relative to those from peripheral blood. Earlier studies suggested that gamma/delta T cell receptor positive (TCR+) T lymphocytes may significantly contribute to the mycobacterial-specific synovial fluid response. We therefore examined the relationship of the T cell proliferative response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens and the presence of gamma/delta TCR+ T cells employing several monoclonal antibodies. No consistent increase of gamma/delta TCR+ T cells was noted in inflammatory synovial fluids or tissues. Nonetheless, lymphocytes from the majority of the synovial fluids proliferated vigorously in response to water-soluble M. tuberculosis antigens. There was no relationship between the percentage of gamma/delta TCR+ T lymphocytes and the intensity of the proliferative response. In contrast, stimulation with whole mycobacterial organisms was capable of enriching the gamma/delta TCR+ cell population obtained from the peripheral blood of tuberculosis skin test positive normal controls and from some inflammatory synovial fluids. These observations do not support a role for mycobacteria reactive gamma/delta TCR+ synovial T lymphocytes in response to soluble mycobacterial antigens or in the local pathogenesis of inflammatory synovitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Pope
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Landay
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Modlin
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lessard
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Koch
mesh_terms: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology*; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D012995:Solubility; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000276:immunology; D013585:Synovitis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell