Evidence for autoantigens of Env/Tax proteins in human T cell leukemia virus type I Env-pX transgenic mice.
OBJECTIVE
To examine T cell clonotypes infiltrating into arthritic joints and to investigate whether human T cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) env-pX gene products act as autoantigens in HTLV-I env-pX transgenic mice.


METHODS
Complementary DNA (cDNA) encoding the V-D-J (third complementarity-determining region [CDR3]) region of T cell receptor beta chain was amplified by Vbeta family polymerase chain reaction. T cell clonotypes were detected by a single-strand conformational polymorphism method, and sequence analysis of the CDR3 region was performed.


RESULTS
Distinct oligoclonal T cell expansion was observed in arthritic joints, and a conserved amino acid motif in the CDR3 region was found in T cells infiltrating joints. Moreover, several intraarticular T cells recognized HTLV-I Env and Tax proteins.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that HTLV-I Env and Tax proteins act as autoantigens that are recognized by autoreactive T cells in inflamed arthritic lesions in the HTLV-I env-pX transgenic mouse. Thus, some T cells infiltrating the joint recognize Env or Tax protein. These cells may trigger chronic arthritis in HTLV-I env-pX transgenic mice.
Fujisawa
K
K
St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan.
Okamoto
K
K
Asahara
H
H
Hasunuma
T
T
Kobata
T
T
Kato
T
T
Sumida
T
T
Nishioka
K
K
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000235:genetics*; D002999:Clone Cells; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000276:immunology; D015686:Gene Products, env / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D016356:Gene Products, tax / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D014760:Viral Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D001324:Autoantigens; D015686:Gene Products, env; D016356:Gene Products, tax; D014760:Viral Fusion Proteins