EVOLUTION OF THE T-CELL RECEPTOR-BETA REPERTOIRE FROM SYNOVIAL-FLUID T-CELLS OF PATIENTS WITH JUVENILE-ONSET RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS

Objective. To determine the level of T cell clonal expansion and the p roportion of T cells that persist over time in the synovial fluid (SF) of patients with juvenile onset rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). Methods. We collected SF samples from each of 3 patients with JRA at 2 to 3 yea r intervals. To measure expression across the entire spectrum of Va fa milies in each of 7 fluids examined. we synthesized and amplified dscD NA from all 24 VB families with a single reverse transcriptase-polymer ase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results. The proportion of clonally expan ded T cells and persistent T cells is low and variable among patients. Conclusion. The data are supportive of disease models nor centered on T cells but centered on the changing nature of the disease over time.