Clonal CD8+ TCR-Vβ expanded populations with effector memory phenotype in Churg Strauss Syndrome

• Published in: Clinical immunology (Orlando, Fla.) Fla.), 2008-07, Vol.128 (1), p.94-102
• Main Authors: Guida, Giuseppe, Vallario, Antonella, Stella, Stefania, Boita, Monica, Circosta, Paola, Mariani, Sara, Prato, Giuseppina, Heffler, Enrico, Bergia, Roberta, Sottile, Antonino, Rolla, Giovanni, Cignetti, Alessandro
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Allergy and Immunology; Biological and medical sciences; Churg Strauss Syndrome; Flow cytometry; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Gene rearrangement; Medical sciences; Sarcoidosis. Granulomatous diseases of unproved etiology. Connective tissue diseases. Elastic tissue diseases. Vasculitis; T cell Receptor; T-lymphocyte
• ISSN: 1521-6616; 1521-7035
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2008.03.505

Abstract Churg Strauss Syndrome (CSS) is a systemic vasculitis in which oligoclonal T cell expansions might be involved in the pathogenesis. Combined analysis of TCR-Vβ expression profile by flow cytometry and of TCR gene rearrangement by heteroduplex PCR was used to detect and characterize T cell expansions in 8 CSS patients, 10 asthmatics and 42 healthy subjects. In all CSS patients one or two Vβ families were expanded among CD8+ cells, with an effector memory phenotype apt to populate tissues and inflammatory sites. Heteroduplex PCR showed the presence of one or more clonal TCR rearrangements, which reveals monoclonal or oligoclonal T cells subpopulations. After purification with a Vβ specific monoclonal antibody, each CD8+/Vβ+ expanded family showed a single TCR rearrangement, clearly suggestive of monoclonality. All CD8+ expansions were detectable throughout the disease course. TCR-Vβ expanded or deleted populations were not observed in asthmatic patients. Clonal CD8+/Vβ+ T cell expansions might be useful as a disease marker.