title: Clonal CD8+ TCR-Vbeta expanded populations with effector memory phenotype in Churg Strauss syndrome.
abstract: Churg Strauss Syndrome (CSS) is a systemic vasculitis in which oligoclonal T cell expansions might be involved in the pathogenesis. Combined analysis of TCR-Vbeta expression profile by flow cytometry and of TCR gene rearrangement by heteroduplex PCR was used to detect and characterize T cell expansions in 8 CSS patients, 10 asthmatics and 42 healthy subjects. In all CSS patients one or two Vbeta families were expanded among CD8+ cells, with an effector memory phenotype apt to populate tissues and inflammatory sites. Heteroduplex PCR showed the presence of one or more clonal TCR rearrangements, which reveals monoclonal or oligoclonal T cells subpopulations. After purification with a Vbeta specific monoclonal antibody, each CD8+/Vbeta+ expanded family showed a single TCR rearrangement, clearly suggestive of monoclonality. All CD8+ expansions were detectable throughout the disease course. TCR-Vbeta expanded or deleted populations were not observed in asthmatic patients. Clonal CD8+/Vbeta+ T cell expansions might be useful as a disease marker.
authors.affiliation: Allergologia e Immunologia Clinica, University of Torino Medical School, Italy. giuseppe.guida@unito.it
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guida
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vallario
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stella
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boita
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Circosta
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mariani
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Prato
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Heffler
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bergia
authors.forename: Antonino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sottile
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rolla
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cignetti
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D015267:Churg-Strauss Syndrome / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D002999:Clone Cells; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015870:Gene Expression; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015333:Gene Rearrangement, beta-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor; D019674:Genes, T-Cell Receptor beta; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000235:genetics*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta