Epitope specificity of clonally expanded populations of CD8+ T cells found within the joints of patients with inflammatory arthritis.

Fazou, C; Yang, H; Mcmichael, A; Callan, M

Journal article

Epitope specificity of clonally expanded populations of CD8+ T cells found within the joints of patients with inflammatory arthritis.

Abstract:: OBJECTIVE: To investigate the hypothesis that clonality of synovial T cells from patients with rheumatoid arthritis is at least partly due to the presence of virus-specific T cells expressing a restricted repertoire of T cell receptors (TCRs). METHODS: Using fluorescently labeled HLA class I-peptide tetramers, populations of virus-specific CD8+ T cells were identified in samples of peripheral blood and synovial fluid taken from 4 patients with inflammatory arthritis. The TCR repertoire of the virus-specific T cells in the synovial fluid was analyzed using a panel of TCR beta variable region-specific monoclonal antibodies. Where T cells expressing a particular Vbeta chain dominated the response to a viral epitope, the sequences of these Vbeta chains were derived from sorted populations of antigen-specific T cells by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: CD8+ T cells specific for Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, and influenza virus were enriched in synovial fluid compared with peripheral blood. Clonal or oligoclonal populations of CD8+ T cells were found to dominate the responses to these viral epitopes in synovial fluid. CONCLUSION: The results support the hypothesis that restricted T cell receptor usage by large populations of virus-specific T cells provides one explanation for the presence of clonally expanded CD8+ T cells within the joints of patients with inflammatory arthritis. Thus, T cell clonality at a site of inflammation may reflect enrichment for memory T cells specific for foreign antigens, rather than proliferation of autoreactive T cells specific for self antigens.

Publication status:: Published

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APA Style

Fazou, C., Yang, H., Mcmichael, A., & Callan, M. (2001). Epitope specificity of clonally expanded populations of CD8+ T cells found within the joints of patients with inflammatory arthritis. Arthritis and Rheumatism, 44(9), 2038–2045.

MLA Style

Fazou, C., et al. “Epitope Specificity of Clonally Expanded Populations of CD8+ T Cells Found within the Joints of Patients with Inflammatory Arthritis.” Arthritis and Rheumatism, vol. 44, no. 9, 2001, pp. 2038–45.

Chicago Style

Fazou, C, H Yang, A Mcmichael, and M Callan. 2001. “Epitope Specificity of Clonally Expanded Populations of CD8+ T Cells Found within the Joints of Patients with Inflammatory Arthritis.” Arthritis and Rheumatism 44 (9): 2038–45.
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