Sural nerve T-cell receptor V beta gene utilization in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy and vasculitic neuropathy

Objective: To investigate the utilization of T-cell receptor (TCR) variable (V) regions in infiltrates of sural nerve biopsies of patients with chroni c inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) and vasculitic neuropath y. Background: The presence of infiltrating T lymphocytes in sural nerve bi opsies may suggest a T cell-mediated immune mechanism in the pathogenesis o f CIDP and vasculitic neuropathy. Patients and methods: The utilization of TCR V beta regions in sural nerves of 13 patients with CIDP and five patien ts with vasculitic neuropathy was determined by immunohistochemistry, rever se-transcription PCR, and nucleotide sequence analysis. These techniques we re also applied in four patients with chronic idiopathic axonal polyneuropa thy (CIAP) who acted as noninflammatory controls, and in five autopsy contr ols. Results: The TCR V beta utilization of infiltrating T cells in sural n erves of patients with CIDP, vasculitic neuropathy, and noninflammatory con trols is heterogeneous. A dominant TCR V beta utilization was not found in any of the patients or controls. Conclusion: There is no evidence for the p resence of clonally expanded T cells in sural nerves of patients with CIDP and vasculitic neuropathy.