SELECTIVE EXPRESSION OF V-BETA FAMILIES BY T-CELLS IN THE BLOOD AND SALIVARY-GLAND INFILTRATE OF PATIENTS WITH PRIMARY SJOGRENS-SYNDROME

Objective. The T cell infiltration of the salivary gland of patients w ith Sjogren's syndrome (SS) has been implicated in the pathogenic proc ess of the disease. We examined the representation of VB subsets in th e blood and salivary tissue of patients with SS. Methods. Circulating T cells from 12 patients and paired samples of blood and labial saliva ry glands obtained from 8 patients were studied. A panel of monoclonal antibodies directed against the variable region of the T cell recepto r was used to enumerate the cells expressing V beta families in the pe ripheral blood by flow cytometry, and in tissue sections by immunofluo rescence. Results. We found an increase of cells bearing V beta 2 fami ly gene products in the circulation, and an increase in both V beta 2 and V beta 8 in the salivary gland infiltrate of patients with SS. No significant difference was noted between the 5 DR3+ patients and 7 DR3 - patients studied with regard to the VR families seen. Conclusion. Ou r data are consistent with a role for specific T cell families in the pathogenesis of SS.