T gamma delta cells and their subsets in blood and synovial tissue from rheumatoid arthritis patients.
We have examined the frequencies of T gamma delta cells in blood, synovial fluids, and synovial membranes of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and in blood from age-matched controls. Immunocytochemical and immunohistochemical techniques were used with monoclonal antibodies BB3 and A13 to define a major and minor blood subset of T gamma delta cells respectively. Together, these antibodies identify the majority (if not all) of the peripheral blood T gamma delta cells. Significantly lower levels of T gamma delta cells were found in the blood of RA patients compared with controls, whilst higher but not significant numbers were found in the synovial fluids of paired samples. Scattered T gamma delta cells were found only in some synovial membranes with a distribution similar to the T alpha beta cells. Analysis of the two different T gamma delta-cell subsets indicated a ratio of BB3 to A13 of about 5:1 in control and RA blood. However, this ratio was less than 1:1 in the RA synovial fluids and membranes. The migratory nature of the A13+ cells could account for their predominance in these sites. The possible pathological significance of these cells in the rheumatoid synovial fluid and synovial membranes is discussed.
Smith
M D
MD
Department of Immunology, University College, London, UK.
Bröker
B
B
Moretta
L
L
Ciccone
E
E
Grossi
C E
CE
Edwards
J C
JC
Yüksel
F
F
Colaco
B
B
Worman
C
C
Mackenzie
L
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008875:Middle Aged; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta