Abnormal helper-inducer/suppressor-inducer T-cell subset distribution and T-cell activation status are common to all types of chronic synovitis.
We have previously shown that rheumatoid synovial T cells are virtually all helper-inducer (CD4+4B4+UCHL1+) rather than suppressor-inducer (CD4+2H4+) cells. CD8 cells were also largely 4B4+. In addition, the majority of T cells were HLA-DR+. To investigate whether these findings were specific for rheumatoid disease, we studied the prevalence of these markers in a variety of chronic inflammatory arthropathies such as ankylosing spondylitis, Reiter's syndrome, and psoriatic arthritis. Again, almost 90% of the T cells were 4B4+UCHL1+ and only 11% were 2H4+; 50% expressed the HLA DR antigen. Thus this phenotypic distribution represents a final common pathway of chronic synovitis and may help to explain the immunopathology of the lesion.
Kingsley
G
G
Department of Medicine, Guy's Hospital, London, UK.
Pitzalis
C
C
Kyriazis
N
N
Panayi
G S
GS
D006681:HLA-D Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D013585:Synovitis / Q000097:blood*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification* / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology
D006681:HLA-D Antigens