The B cell repertoire of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. II. Increased frequencies of IgG+ and IgA+ B cells specific for mycobacterial heat-shock protein 60 or human type II collagen in synovial fluid and tissue.
OBJECTIVE
A qualitative and quantitative analysis of the functional, antigen-specific B cell receptor repertoire of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in synovial and peripheral compartments.


METHODS
B cells were activated to grow and differentiate at high efficiency in vitro under limiting-dilution conditions. Isotype and specificity of the secreted Ig were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.


RESULTS
In contrast to peripheral B cells, most synovial B cells had already switched to IgG/IgA in vivo. The frequencies of B cells specifically recognizing foreign antigens were decreased within the synovial population, whereas the frequencies of B cells specific for type II collagen, mycobacterial heat-shock protein 60 (hsp60), or IgG Fc fragments were significantly increased, revealing a negative correlation in terms of frequencies.


CONCLUSIONS
B cells specific for human type II collagen, hsp60, and IgG Fc fragments are produced and/or expanded locally within the affected joints of RA patients. Thus, the specific immune system is definitely involved in the local inflammatory and destructive processes.
Rudolphi
U
U
Albert-Ludwigs University, Freiburg, Germany.
Rzepka
R
R
Batsford
S
S
Kaufmann
S H
SH
von der Mark
K
K
Peter
H H
HH
Melchers
I
I
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells / Q000276:immunology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002455:Cell Division; D018834:Chaperonin 60 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D003094:Collagen / Q000276:immunology; D000939:Epitopes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000097:blood; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology
D018834:Chaperonin 60; D000939:Epitopes; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D003094:Collagen; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor