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Type II collagen is a target antigen of clonally expanded T cells in the synovium of patients with rheumatoid arthritis
  1. Taichi Sekinea,b,
  2. Tomohiro Katoa,
  3. Kayo Masuko-Hongoa,
  4. Hiroshi Nakamuraa,c,
  5. Shin-ichi Yoshinoc,
  6. Kusuki Nishiokaa,
  7. Kazuhiko Yamamotoa,d
  1. aRheumatology, Immunology and Genetics Program, Institute of Medical Science, St Marianna University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan, bMitsubishi Kagaku Bio-Clinical Laboratories Inc, Tokyo, Japan, cDivision of Rheumatology, Nihon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan, dDivision of Allergy and Rheumatology, University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
  1. Dr T Kato, Rheumatology, Immunology and Genetics Program, Institute of Medical Science, St Marianna University School of Medicine, 2–16–1, Sugao, Miyamae-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, 216–8512, Japan.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE To investigate whether type II collagen (CII) is recognised by oligoclonally expanded synovial T cells of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODS Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 15 RA patients were stimulated with CII in vitro. T cell clones expanded by such stimulation were compared with the clonally expanded synovial T cells by using T cell receptor (TCR) B chain gene specific reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and subsequent single strand conformation polymorphism analyses.

RESULTS Stimulation of the heterogeneous peripheral T cells with CII induced clonal expansion of T cells. In three of 15 patients, a proportion of these clones (approximately 17% to 25%) was found to be identical to expanded T cell clones in the synovium in vivo.

CONCLUSION T cell clones that had TCR CDR3 sequences identical to those induced by purified CII were found in a proportion of RA patients. This finding suggests that CII is recognised by T cells that accumulate clonally in RA joints. Oligoclonal T cell expansion in RA joints is probably driven, at least in part, by intra-articular components such as CII.

  • T cell receptor
  • T cell clone
  • type II collagen
  • reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction
  • subsequent single strand conformation polymorphism

https://doi.org/10.1136/ard.58.7.446

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