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The T Cell Receptor Repertoire in Psoriatic Synovitis Is Restricted and T Lymphocytes Expressing the Same TCR Are Present in Joint and Skin Lesions
LORENA BORGATO, ANTONIO PUCCETTI, RUGGERO BERI, ORAZIO CODELLA, ANTONIO FRIGO, SARA SIMEONI, MARIA LUISA PACOR, ROBERTO CORROCHER, and CLAUDIO LUNARDI
ABSTRACT.
Methods. The expression of Va and Vß families was evaluated by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. The CDR3 region of some Vß families was analyzed by cloning and sequencing. Results. We found a diverse variable ß chain usage within psoriatic synovial fluid of 11 patients although some Va and Vß families were more frequently expressed without evidence of clonality. Analysis of TCR in skin and synovial lesions of 3 patients showed identical CDR3 sequences, indicating that T cells bearing the same TCR are present at the 2 sites of chronic inflammation. Conclusion. These data suggest that common or similar crossreactive antigens present in the 2 locations are responsible for the expansion of the same TCR-bearing T cells possibly already activated by a superantigen. This supports the hypothesis that both polyclonal and oligoclonal lymphocyte activation contribute to the initiation and persistence of psoriatic arthritis. (J Rheumatol 2002;29:1914-9) Key Indexing Terms:
T CELL RECEPTOR
From the Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine and the Department of Medicine and Public Health, Section of Internal Medicine, University of Verona, Verona; the Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova; and the Giannina Gaslini Institute, Genova, Italy. Supported by grants from the Regione Veneto and Ministero dell'Universita' e della Ricerca Scientifica e Tecnologica, n.9906242552-002 (CL), and from Ceriverona Foundation (RC). L. Borgato, MS; R. Beri, MS; A. Frigo, MD; S. Simeoni, MD; M.L. Pacor, MD, Associate Professor; C. Lunardi, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine; R. Corrocher, MD, Full Professor of Internal Medicine; O. Codella, MD, Department of Medicine and Public Health, University of Verona; A. Puccetti, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova and G. Gaslini Institute, Genova. Address reprint requests to Dr. C. Lunardi, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Internal Medicine, Policlinico GB Rossi, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy. E-mail: lunardi@cmib.univr.it Submitted November 23, 2001; revision accepted March 12, 2002.
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