CD8high+ (CD57+) T cells in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the development and T cell receptor (TCR) usage of CD8+, CD57+ T cells in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.


METHODS
Three-color flow cytometry using monoclonal antibodies (MAb) to CD8, CD57 and different TCR V beta gene products.


RESULTS
The proportion of CD8+ T cells expressing CD57 (CD57/CD8) was significantly higher in RA patients compared with age-matched controls. Expanded TCR V beta populations were more frequent, and were found in both RA patient-derived CD8high+ (CD57+) and CD8+, CD57- populations. TCR V beta 5+ and TCR V beta 13+ expansions were present at high frequency (5 of 26 and 7 of 26, respectively). TCR V beta expansions in CD8high+ (CD57+) lymphocytes from RA patients were significantly larger than those in age-matched controls (expansion index 2.38 +/- 0.28, n = 41 and 1.63 +/- 0.09, n = 32, respectively), and were stable over time.


CONCLUSIONS
RA leads to an increase in the frequency of expanded CD8+ T cell subsets expressing selected TCR, due to expansion of TCR V beta + populations in CD8high+ (CD57+) T cells. Their restricted TCR usage suggests potential specificity for RA antigens and, therefore, a potential role in the pathogenesis of RA.
Wang
E C
EC
Laboratory of Lymphocyte Molecular Biology, Imperial Cancer Research Fund, London, UK.
Lawson
T M
TM
Vedhara
K
K
Moss
P A
PA
Lehner
P J
PJ
Borysiewicz
L K
LK
D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D018959:CD57 Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics
D018959:CD57 Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta