Diversity and Clonality of T Cell Receptor Repertoire and Antigen Specificities in Small Joints of Early Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors' conclusion
Minimally invasive biopsies of the RA synovium allow for single-cell TCR sequencing and phenotyping. Clonally expanded, viral-reactive T cells account for part of the diverse CD4+ T cell repertoire. TRBV20-1 bias in ACPA+ patients suggests recognition of common antigens.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) at time of diagnosis before therapeutic intervention; synovial biopsy of a small joint (US-guided) or large joint (arthroscopic)
- Participants
- 16 patients
- Comparison
- Anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA)+ vs ACPA− early RA
- ACPA+n = 11
- ACPA-n = 5
- Outcome
- Synovial T cell receptor repertoire, T cell phenotypes and T cell specificities
- Follow-up
- At diagnosis, before therapeutic intervention
Methodological detailssingle-cell paired αβ T cell receptor (TCR) sequencing, flow cytometry, TCRs from expanded CD4+ clones of 4 HLA-DRB1*04:01 patients reexpressed to study antigen specificity
- Single-cell paired αβ TCR sequencing
- Flow cytometry
- TCRs from expanded CD4+ clones of 4 HLA-DRB1*04:01 patients reexpressed to study antigen specificity
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Unique TCR sequences identified
>4,000
Clonal expansions identified
225
Original publication
Diversity and Clonality of T Cell Receptor Repertoire and Antigen Specificities in Small Joints of Early Rheumatoid Arthritis. Arthritis Rheumatol. Published 26 February 2023. doi:10.
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