Clonally accumulating T cells in the anterior chamber of Behcet disease

PURPOSE: To clarify the nature of infiltrating T cells into the anterior ch amber of a patient with Behcet disease. METHODS: Aqueous humor was obtained from a patient with ocular Behcet disea se by paracentesis. RNA isolated from the cells in aqueous humor was revers e transcribed into complementary DNA. Complementary DNA encoding the variab le (V) diversity (D) joining (J) (junctional) region of T-cell receptor bet a chain V domain (TCR BV) chain was amplified by T-cell receptor BV family polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Polymerase chain reaction Southern blot analysis showed that T-cel l receptor BV3, BV5, and BV7 were dominantly expressed on ocular T cells of this patient. In addition, DNA sequencing revealed that monoclonal or olig oclonal T-cell accumulation was found in T-cell receptor BV3(+), BV5(+), an d BV7(+) T cells. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that some T cells infiltrating into the anterior chamber of a patient with ocular Behcet disease expand by antigen- driven stimulation, indicating the pivotal role of T cells in the pathogene sis of ocular Behcet disease. (C) 2000 by Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.