Open AccessAnalysis of T cell receptors in rheumatoid arthritis: the increased expression of HLA‐DR antigen on circulating γδ + T cells is correlated with disease activity
Author(s) -
LAMOUR A.,
JOUENBEADES F.,
LEES O.,
GILBERT D.,
LOET X.,
TRON F.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
clinical & experimental immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 135
eISSN - 1365-2249
pISSN - 0009-9104
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2249.1992.tb06935.x
Subject(s) - immunology , antigen , cd8 , t cell , gamma delta t cell , t lymphocyte , flow cytometry , cd3 , t cell receptor , medicine , biology , immune system
SUMMARY The phenotypic characteristics of peripheral blood T cells, isolated from 37 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and 17 healthy controls were determined with special emphasis on γδ + T cells and CD4 − CD8 − αβ + T cells. Two‐ and three‐colour automated flow cytometry analyses were performed using a panel of MoAbs directed against differentiation antigens and T cell receptor molecules. The results demonstrated: (i) no significant difference between the percentages or CD4 − CD8 − αβ + T cells in patients and controls; (ii) a significant decrease of the γδ + T cell level in the peripheral blood of RA patients relative to controls; (iii) phenotypic abnormalities of circulating γδ + T cells in RA patients suggestive of an activation status in vivo. These abnormalities included a significant reduction in the density of the T cell differentiation antigen CD3 and an increase in the expression of HLA‐DR antigen. The level of circulating HLA‐DR + /γδ + T cells was significantly higher in patients with active disease. HLA‐DR + /γδ + T cells were also present in the synovial fluid obtained from three patients with an active disease. In addition, preliminary experiments showed that the activated γδ + T cells were predominantly Vδ1. Taken together, these data support the involvement of γδ + T cells in the pathogenesis of RA.