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.
Cantagrel
A
A
Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Unit 395, Hôpital Purpan, Toulouse, France.
Lambert
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N
Alam
A
A
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