Open AccessRecognition of rheumatoid arthritis synovial antigen by CD4+,CD8− T cell clones established from rheumatoid arthritis joints
Author(s) -
Toyosaki Tomoko,
Tsuruta Yuji,
Yoshioka Takeshi,
Takemoto Hiroshi,
Suzuki Ryuji,
Tomita Tetsuya,
Ochi Takahiro
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
arthritis & rheumatism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1529-0131
pISSN - 0004-3591
DOI - 10.1002/1529-0131(199801)41:1<92::aid-art12>3.0.co;2-2
Subject(s) - rheumatoid arthritis , medicine , immunology , antigen , arthritis , cd8
Objective To investigate the rheumatoid arthritis (RA)‐specific autoantigen(s) recognized by CD4+ T cells in patients with RA. Methods CD4+,CD45RO+ T cell clones were established from the joints of RA patients, and were examined for their proliferative response to synovial cells. Results Eight of 146 T cell clones responded to RA synovial cells in a DR‐restricted manner. These T cell clones recognized solubilized antigens extracted from RA synovial cells in the presence of DR‐matched antigen‐presenting cells, but did not respond to those extracted from non‐RA synovial cells. The antigens had a molecular weight of 50/25 kd. Five of the 8 T cell clones used T cell receptor BV6, and the remaining clones used BV12.2. Conclusion The antigens recognized by joint‐infiltrating CD4+ T cells are present exclusively in RA synovial cells. The expression of these antigens by synovial cells may trigger the autoreactivity of T cells in RA joints.