Open AccessIncreased frequency of vβ17‐positive t cells in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Author(s) -
Zagon Gary,
Tumang Joseph R.,
Li Yixin,
Friedman Steven M.,
Crow Mary K.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
arthritis & rheumatism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1529-0131
pISSN - 0004-3591
DOI - 10.1002/art.1780371005
Subject(s) - rheumatoid arthritis , t cell receptor , beta (programming language) , synovial fluid , immunology , tcirg1 , arthritis , t cell , pathogenesis , medicine , monoclonal antibody , t lymphocyte , antibody , microbiology and biotechnology , antigen , pathology , biology , immune system , osteoarthritis , alternative medicine , computer science , programming language
Objective . To identify the T lymphocytes that mediate disease in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods . A panel of monoclonal antibodies reactive with T cell receptor (TCR) Vβ gene products was used to analyze the RA T cell repertoire. Results . Of 5 TCR Vβ gene products studied, only Vβ17‐positive T cells were increased in peripheral blood and synovial fluid (SF) from RA patients, compared with controls ( P < 0.01 and P = 0.0006, respectively). Thirty‐one percent of the 49 RA SF samples and none of the 19 non‐RA SF samples contained >10% Vβ17‐positive T cells. Activated (Tac‐positive) T cells were enriched among Vβ17‐positive synovial T cells. Conclusion . The selective increase of Vβ17‐positive T cells suggests a role for those T cells in the pathogenesis of RA.