Broadening of the T cell receptor spectrum among rheumatoid arthritis synovial cell-lines in relation to disease duration.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to evaluate the T cell receptor (TCR) family usage in T cell-lines from subcutaneous nodules and synovium from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), with specific reference to the duration of symptoms. In vitro adherence characteristics of nodular T cells was studied as well.


METHODS
Monoclonal antibodies were used to determine the distribution of TCR families in T cell-lines from synovium of patients with early and long-standing RA, from rheumatoid nodules and control tissues. An in vitro binding assay with T cell-lines from 2 rheumatoid nodules was performed.


RESULTS
In early RA synovium, a restricted TCR family usage was observed in 5 out of 8 patients, contrary to long-standing disease, peripheral blood, ileum and colon. In RA nodules, a similar degree of restriction was noted. Moreover, the same TCR family was overexpressed by T cell-lines from different nodules derived from the same patient. T cell-lines from rheumatoid nodules demonstrated a preferential in vitro adherence to rheumatoid synovium and rheumatoid nodules, while no binding was observed on skin or tonsil.


CONCLUSIONS
The TCR spectrum among RA synovial cell-lines broadens in relation to the disease duration. The overexpression of the same TCR family in different rheumatoid nodules from the same patients, and the in vitro adherence of T cell-lines from rheumatoid nodules may be indicative for recirculation between the different disease manifestations in RA.
Elewaut
D
D
Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Ghent, Belgium.
De Keyser
F
F
Van den Bosch
F
F
Verbruggen
G
G
Veys
E M
EM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000378:metabolism*; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000097:blood; D012218:Rheumatoid Nodule / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors
D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor