[Analysis of TCR Vbeta clonotypes of T lymphocytes infiltrating in the joints of rats with collagen-induced arthritis].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the TCR Vbeta clonetypes of T lymphocytes infiltrating in the synovium of rats with collagen induced arthritis (CIA).


METHODS
Type II collagen was used to induce arthritis in Lewis rats. CD4(+) and CD8(+) T lymphocytes in peripheral blood of the rats were analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM). Total RNA was extracted from rat joint tissues and TCR Vbeta clonotypes were identified by RT-PCR and single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP). Splenic lymphocytes from CIA rats were transferred into normal Lewis rats. TCR Vbeta clonotypes of T lymphocytes infiltrating in the joints of the recipient rats were also analyzed by RT-PCR/SSCP.


RESULTS
FCM analysis of the T lymphocytes indicated that CD8(+) T lymphocytes decreased in CIA rats and the CD4(+)/CD8(+) T lymphocytes ratio was >2, which suggested that there was a disproportion of the T lymphocyte subsets in CIA rats. RT-PCR/SSCP analysis showed that TCR Vbeta5.2 and TCR Vbeta8.2 clonotypes predominated in the T lymphocytes infiltrating in the joints of CIA rats. T lymphocytes infiltrating in the joints of the recipient rats displayed the same TCR Vbeta clonotypes as those in the donor rats.


CONCLUSIONS
CIA rats may have a limited number of dominant TCR Vbeta clonotypes of T lymphocytes accumulating in the synovium, of which TCR Vbeta5.2 and 8.2 predominate.
Zhang
Xin-mei
XM
Department of Immunology, Capital University of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100054, China. zxm961@sohu.com
Zhao
Wen-ming
WM
Li
Yun
Y
Liu
Zhen-long
ZL
D000818:Animals; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D007596:Joints / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D018807:Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational; D051381:Rats; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*
D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell