ABNORMAL T-CELL RECEPTOR V-BETA GENE-EXPRESSION IN THE PERIPHERAL-BLOOD AND SYNOVIAL-FLUID OF RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS PATIENTS

Objective. The aim of this study was to assess T cell receptor V beta- gene expression in the peripheral blood and synovial fluid of rheumato id arthritis patients. Methods. Cytometric analysis was performed on p eripheral blood and synovial fluid lymphocytes from 12 patients using a restricted set of V beta-specific monoclonal antibodies (to V beta 5 .1-3, V beta 6.7 and V beta 8). In 5 patients the expression of the V beta 1 through V beta 20 gene families was also analysed, using a rece ntly described method based an a one-side-specificity polymerase chain reaction coupled to reverse dot hybridization. Results. Cytometric an alysis failed to show any consistent difference in the expression of V beta 5, 6 and 8 between the two compartments on the one hand, or betw een the peripheral blood of normal individuals and patients on the oth er hand. The PCR/dot hybridization method did not demonstrate a signif icant difference in the V beta repertoires between peripheral blood an d synovial fluid samples from arthritis patients. However in all patie nts the V beta 6, 13 and/or 14 families were expressed to a high level , so that these families frequently represented over 40% of the V beta 1-20 repertoire in both compartments, instead of the approximately 20 % seen in normal peripheral blood samples. Conclusion. We conclude tha t V beta 6, 13 and 14 are overexpressed in both the peripheral blood a nd synovial fluid of rheumatoid arthritis patients compared to normal samples.