INFLUENCE OF THE RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS-ASSOCIATED SHARED EPITOPE ON T-CELL RECEPTOR REPERTOIRE FORMATION

Rheumatoid arthritis is associated with several human leukocyte antige n DRB1 types that express a common five-amino acid sequence called the shared epitope. Here we show that the human leukocyte antigen DRB1 sh ared epitope expands naive T lymphocytes that express the same T-cell- receptor variable region-joining region combinations that are prevalen t in the synovia of rheumatoid arthritis patients. Thus, the shared ep itope could affect rheumatoid arthritis disease susceptibility by sele cting in the premorbid state specific T-cell subsets that contribute t o synovial inflammation.