Biased t cell receptor v gene usage in rheumatoid arthritis. oligoclonal expansion of t cells expressing vα2 genes in synovial fluid but not in peripheral blood

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Abstract
Objective. To analyze the T cell receptor (TCR) variable (V) region gene usage in the rheumatoid joint. Methods. Monoclonal antibodies (MAb) were used to determine the prevalence of selected V elements on T cells in synovial fluid (SF) from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and in peripheral blood (PB) from RA patients and normal controls. Vα2-positive PB and SF T cells from 1 patient were cloned by immediated limiting-dilution and analyzed by restriction mapping. Results. In 9 of 14 RA patients, SF was enriched in at least 1 of the selected V elements, compared with PB. TCR genes of the Vα2 family were the most frequently overrepresented in the SF (4 patients). The expanded Vα2-positive cells were oligoclonal in SF but heterogeneic in PB. Conclusion. Our data showing biased and clonally restricted TCR elements in the rheumatoid joint indicate major histocompatibility complex–restricted antigen recognition, rather than a “superantigen,” in the pathogenesis of RA.