Tγδ CELLS AND THEIR SUBSETS IN BLOOD AND SYNOVIAL FLUID FROM PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

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Abstract
We have determined the distribution of Tγδ cells in the peripheral blood of 44 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and in 36 healthy controls. In addition, paired blood and synovial fluid samples were obtained from seven patients with RA. The monoclonal antibodies A13, BB3 and TiγA, which are specific for the Vδ1, Vδ2 and Vγ9 gene products respectively, were used to define Tγδ subsets. Tγδ+ cells expressed as a percentage of CD3+ lymphocytes were reduced in RA peripheral blood compared with the control group (3.9% ± 0.5 versus 5.7% ± 0.7; PP<0.002). No statistical difference was observed in Tγδ cell numbers in synovial fluid compared with the paired blood samples (4.0% ± 1.1 in blood and 4.4% ± 1.4 in synovial fluid). Also the distribution of Vδ2+ and Vδ1+ cells was similar in the two compartments and a similar alteration in subset distribution was found in blood and synovial fluid. These findings do not indicate a selective accumulation of a specific Tγδ subset in RA synovial effusions.

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