Heterogeneity of T cell receptor idiotypes in rheumatoid arthritis.
The nature of the T cell response in the rheumatoid synovium was investigated by using monoclonals MX9 and 42/1C1, which recognize the V beta 8 and V beta 5 T cell receptor gene families respectively. The blood and synovial T cells of ten patients with rheumatoid arthritis were compared. The majority (8/10) had different numbers of V beta 5 and V beta 8 cells in the joints from those in the blood, indicating that the T cells in the joints were not a sample of those in the blood. In three patients both V beta 5 and V beta 8 cells in the joint were augmented in number, suggesting that the T cells selectively retained in the joint were not members of a single clone, but derived from many clones. Some patients had increased levels of V beta 5 or V beta 8 alone in the joint indicating that heterogeneity existed between patients. These results are not consistent with the preferential or dominant use of a single V beta gene family in the T cells involved in the rheumatoid arthritic joints.
Brennan
F M
FM
Immunology Unit, Charing Cross Sunley Research Centre, Switzerland.
Allard
S
S
Londei
M
M
Savill
C
C
Boylston
A
A
Carrel
S
S
Maini
R N
RN
Feldmann
M
M
D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D005803:Genes, Immunoglobulin; D006801:Humans; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000235:genetics; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics*; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell