title: Limited VH gene usage in B-cell clones established with nurse-like cells from patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Nurse-like stromal cells (NLC) in synovia and bone marrow of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can support pseudoemperipolesis, protect from apoptosis and enhance immunoglobulin production of peripheral blood B cells isolated from healthy individuals, suggesting the profound contribution of hyperactivation of B cells in RA. In the course of establishing RA-NLC from RA patients, we observed the growth of B cells in the presence of RA-NLC.
  
  
  METHODS
  We cloned B cells from the synovium or bone marrow of RA patients using the limiting dilution technique. For established clones, nucleotide sequences of immunoglobulin and surface antigens were investigated. To investigate the dependence of these clones on NLC, differences in the proliferation and the amount of immunoglobulin produced in the presence or absence of NLC were compared. Immunocytochemical staining of various cells was performed using the antibody these clones produced.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine B-cell clones established from RA patients showed RA-NLC-dependent growth. These B-cell clones expressed CD19, CD20, CD38, CD39 and CD40, suggesting that the cloned cells were mature and activated. All clones secreted immunoglobulins in culture media, which were specific for intracellular components of various cell lines, including RA-NLC. Interestingly, we found limited usage of immunoglobulin heavy-chain variable regions (VH) among B-cell clones from RA patients. These repertoires were reported to be detected preferentially in fetal livers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study provides a novel insight into the involvement of RA-NLC in the immunopathogenesis of RA via an autoreactive B cell development and/or activation mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Discovery Research Laboratory, Shionogi & Co., Ltd., Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakamura-Kikuoka
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takahi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsuboi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Toyosaki-Maeda
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maeda-Tanimura
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wakasa
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kikuchi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Norioka
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iwasaki
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsutani
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Itoh
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamane
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takemoto
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tsuruta
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shimaoka
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yukioka
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ochi
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000276:immunology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000276:immunology; D005803:Genes, Immunoglobulin; D006801:Humans; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000235:genetics*; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000276:immunology; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region; D007136:Immunoglobulins