T cell receptor variable gene repertoire in rheumatoid synovial T cells responding to BCG

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a progressive disease that results in destruction of the joint tissues. RA tissues show infiltration with B and T lymphocytes, macrophages and dendritic cells as well as proliferation of synovial cells. These cells and their products appear to be responsible for the chronic inflammatory processes in the joint. T cells are the major inflammatory cells in the rheumatoid inflammatory tissues (Abrahamsen et al. 1975). Since we do not know the etiology of this destructive disease, we have approached the question of the T cell receptor repertoire (TCR) by studying antigen-specific T cell clones responding to BCG (Quayle et al. 1992, Wilson et al. 1993) that represent frequent responses in these local T cells (Abrahamsen et al. 1978).