title: The T cell receptor repertoire in psoriatic synovitis is restricted and T lymphocytes expressing the same TCR are present in joint and skin lesions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire in psoriatic synovitis and to determine whether T lymphocytes in joint and skin lesions show the same Vbeta CDR3 region.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression of Valpha and Vbeta families was evaluated by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. The CDR3 region of some Vbeta families was analyzed by cloning and sequencing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found a diverse variable beta chain usage within psoriatic synovial fluid of 11 patients although some Valpha and Vbeta families were more frequently expressed without evidence of clonality. Analysis of TCR in skin and synovial lesions of 3 patients showed identical CDR3 sequences, indicating that T cells bearing the same TCR are present at the 2 sites of chronic inflammation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that common or similar crossreactive antigens present in the 2 locations are responsible for the expansion of the same TCR-bearing T cells possibly already activated by a superantigen. This supports the hypothesis that both polyclonal and oligoclonal lymphocyte activation contribute to the initiation and persistence of psoriatic arthritis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Lorena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Borgato
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Puccetti
authors.forename: Ruggero
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Beri
authors.forename: Orazio
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Codella
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Frigo
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Simeoni
authors.forename: Maria Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Pacor
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Corrocher
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lunardi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015535:Arthritis, Psoriatic / Q000150:complications*; D001483:Base Sequence; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D046508:Culture Techniques; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011379:Prognosis; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018089:Superantigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D013585:Synovitis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D017252:CD3 Complex; D006680:HLA Antigens; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D018089:Superantigens