TCR1+ large granular lymphocyte proliferation in rheumatoid arthritis.
The T gamma-lymphoproliferative syndrome is characterized by a proliferation of large granular lymphocytes (LGL). It is often associated with neutropenia, and in 30% of cases with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Phenotypic analysis has demonstrated that in most cases of RA with T gamma-proliferative disease, the LGL represent T cells with a clonal rearrangement of the alpha/beta T cell receptor (TCR2). Here, three patients with gamma/delta TCR1+ LGL proliferation suffering from long-standing arthritis and neutropenia are described. The first patient with RA showed an expansion of a heterogeneous CD2+ CD16+ CD56- LGL population, of which 30% coexpressed TCR1 with V delta 1 rearrangement. The second patient with ankylosing spondylitis and RA was suffering from proliferation of TCR1+ (V gamma 9-, V delta 1-), CD2+ CD16- CD56- LGL with low coexpression of CD8. The third patient with RA was suffering from a proliferation of TCR1+ (V delta 1+, V gamma 9-) CD4- CD8- CD16- CD56- lymphocytes. On the basis of these unusual findings, the pathogenetic role of TCR1+ T cells in RA is discussed.
Kuipers
J G
JG
Department of Clinical Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Germany.
Jacobs
R
R
Kemper
A
A
Zeidler
H
H
Schmidt
R E
RE
D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*
D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta