Absence of peripheral blood T cell responses to &#39;shared epitope&#39; containing peptides in recent onset rheumatoid arthritis

McColl, GJ; Hammer, J; Harrison, LC

Absence of peripheral blood T cell responses to 'shared epitope' containing peptides in recent onset rheumatoid arthritis

Author(s): McColl, GJ; Hammer, J; Harrison, LC;
Details: Publication Year 1997-04,Volume 56,Issue #4,Page 240-246
Journal Title: ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
Publication Type: Journal Article
Abstract: Objectives-To determine if peptides containing the 'shared epitope' sequence, QKRAA, from either endogenous, HLA-DR beta 1(0401), or exogenous, Escherichia coli dnaJ, sources activate T cells in recent onset rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods-Peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) proliferative and whole blood cytokine responses to shared epitope containing peptides from DR beta 1(0401) and E coli dnaJ, to control peptides from DR beta 1(0402) and hsp40 and to the recall antigen, tetanus toroid, were tested in 20 untreated, recent onset RA subjects, 20 HLA, age, and sex matched healthy controls and 18 other subjects with inflammatory arthritis. PBMC proliferative responses to a second E coli dnaJ peptide (with the shared epitope at the N-terminus) and two peptides from type II collagen with high affinity for DR4(0401) were tested in a further 16 recent onset RA and 17 control subjects. Results-PBMC proliferation and whole blood interferon gamma or interleukin 10 production in response to the shared epitope containing and control peptides were not different between the disease and control groups. On the other hand, compared with controls, RA subjects had significantly higher proliferation to a collagen II (aa 1307-1319) peptide, but significantly lower proliferation and interferon gamma production to tetanus toroid. Conclusion-Recent onset RA subjects had no demonstrable increase in peripheral blood T cell reactivity to shared epitope containing peptides. However, a proportion had increased T cell reactivity to a peptide of similar length from a candidate RA autoantigen, collagen type II. Their impaired responses to tetanus are in keeping with evidence for general T cell hyporesponsiveness in RA.
Publisher: BRITISH MED JOURNAL PUBL GROUP
Keywords: SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS; GAMMA-INTERFERON PRODUCTION; IMMUNE-RESPONSES; SOLUBLE-ANTIGENS; WHOLE-BLOOD; ASSOCIATION; PROLIFERATION; MOLECULES; SUSCEPTIBILITY; HYPOTHESIS
Publisher's Version: https://doi.org/10.1136/ard.56.4.240
Terms of Use/Rights Notice: Refer to copyright notice on published article.

Creation Date: 1997-04-01 12:00:00