T cell receptor gene in synovial tissues of rheumatoid arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic and destructive autoimmune joint disease characterized by inflammation of synovial tissue of unknown aetiology. Studies on TCR genes expressed by infiltrating T cells in synovial tissues have attempted to identify mechanism and specificity of the recruitment. T cell infiltrate in rheumatoid arthritis appears to be an association of a polyclonal non specific infiltrate with dominant clones or clonotypes. T cell repertoire in synovial tissue is biased compared to peripheral blood but no TCR V gene can be identified as commonly over-used. Comparison of motifs found in the CDR3 region of dominant clones from different studies has currently failed to identified a commonly motif. The fact that a number of dominant clones or clonotypes is present in different joints and at different times of the disease suggests a selective expansion of T lymphocytes in rheumatoid arthritis synovial membrane. Further investigations are needed to characterize the specificity of these dominant clonotypes.
Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Unit 395, Hôpital Purpan, Toulouse, France.
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A
Cantagrel
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N
Lambert
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A
Alam
D000818:Animals; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics*; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000276:immunology
D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell