Cd8high+ (CD57+) T cells in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

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Abstract
Objective. To investigate the development and T cell receptor (TCR) usage of CD8+, CD57+ T cells in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Methods. Three‐color flow cytometry using monoclonal antibodies (MAb) to CD8, CD57 and different TCR Vβ gene products. Results. The proportion of CD8+ T cells expressing CD57 (CD57/CD8) was significantly higher in RA patients compared with age‐matched controls. Expanded TCR Vβ populations were more frequent, and were found in both RA patient—derived CD8high+(CD57+) and CD8+, CD57– populations. TCR Vβ5+ and TCR Vβ13+ expansions were present at high frequency (5 of 26 and 7 of 26, respectively). TCR Vβ expansions in CD8high+(CD57+) lymphocytes from RA patients were significantly larger than those in age‐matched controls (expansion index 2.38 ± 0.28, n = 41 and 1.63 ± 0.09, n = 32, respectively), and were stable over time. Conclusion. RA leads to an increase in the frequency of expanded CD8+ T cell subsets expressing selected TCR, due to expansion of TCR Vβ+ populations in CD8high+(CD57+) T cells. Their restricted TCR usage suggests potential specificity for RA antigens and, therefore, a potential role in the pathogenesis of RA.