Analysis of T cell receptor gamma transcripts in right and left knee synovial fluids of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To establish the extent of clonal expansion of T cell receptor (TCR) gamma delta + T cells in synovial fluid (SF), and the sharing of the clones between affected knee joints from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).


METHODS
We quantified, using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the level of expression from each of the 4 V gamma gene families. We resolved PCR products on denaturing polyacrylamide gels to measure the proportion of mRNA transcripts contributed by clonally expanded gamma delta T cells. We subcloned and sequenced 509 cDNA clones derived from 8 SF and one peripheral blood sample from 2 patients with RA and one patient with juvenile onset RA to fully characterize the populations of T cell receptor gamma mRNA sequences.


RESULTS
We found in each patient disproportionate expression of a subpopulation of T cell receptor gamma mRNA transcripts. Some of these transcripts are expressed by T cells found in both joints.


CONCLUSIONS
Synovial TCR gamma delta + T cells are oligoclonal and some of these T cell clones are common to SF of both joints. The finding of identical T cell sequences from SF of both affected joints from each patient points to a role for gamma delta + T cells in disease progression.
Doherty
P J
PJ
Department of Medicine, Toronto Hospital (Western Division), Canada.
Inman
R D
RD
Laxer
R M
RM
Silverman
E D
ED
Yang
S X
SX
Suurmann
I
I
Pan
S
S
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000235:genetics*; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000276:immunology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000276:immunology
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta