INCREASED FREQUENCY OF V-BETA-17-POSITIVE T-CELLS IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS

Objective. To identify the T lymphocytes that mediate disease in rheum atoid arthritis (RA). Methods. A panel of monoclonal antibodies reacti ve with T cell receptor (TCR) V beta gene products was used to analyze the RA T cell repertoire. Results. Of 5 TCR V beta gene products stud ied, only V beta 17-positive T cells were increased in peripheral bloo d and synovial fluid (SF) from RA patients, compared with controls (P < 0.01 and P = 0.0006, respectively). Thirty-one percent of the 49 RA SF samples and none of the 19 non-RA SF samples contained >10% V beta 17-positive T cells. Activated (Tac-positive)T cells were enriched amo ng V beta 17-positive synovial T cells. Conclusion. The selective incr ease of V beta 17-positive T cells suggests a role for those T cells i n the pathogenesis of RA.