title: Distribution of T-cell receptor-bearing lymphocytes in the synovial membrane from patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Using immunohistology and monoclonal antibodies directed to the T-cell receptor (TCR) chains, we have analysed the distribution of TCR-bearing lymphocytes within the membrane of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Alkaline phosphatase staining for TCR alpha beta-bearing lymphocytes showed a distribution paralleling that of the total T cells. Staining for the TCR gamma delta chains revealed a moderate and rather homogeneous distribution of T gamma delta lymphocytes within the RA synovium. As evidenced by simultaneous staining for alpha beta and gamma delta receptors, the relative count of T gamma delta to alpha beta-expressing cells is close to the peripheral count (e.g.5%), and lower than that previously observed in the synovial fluid. Interestingly, the peripheral type V gamma 9-J gamma P rearrangement using the T gamma delta cell subset was relatively decreased in the synovial membrane, as compared to synovial fluid and peripheral blood, suggesting that the T gamma delta distribution in the rheumatoid synovium resembles a thymic-like situation.
authors.affiliation: INSERM Unit 291, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Chaouni
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Radal
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Simony-Lafontaine
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Combe
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sany
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rème
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000032:analysis* / Q000145:classification; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000473:pathology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell