IgVH genes from different anatomical regions, with different histopathological patterns, of a rheumatoid arthritis patient suggest cyclic re-entry of mature synovial B-cells in the hypermutation process

• Published in: Arthritis research 2000-01, Vol.2 (4), p.303-314, Article 303
• Main Authors: Souto-Carneiro, M M, Krenn, V, Hermann, R, König, A, Müller-Hermelink, H K
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amino acid sequence; Analysis; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - genetics; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - immunology; B-Lymphocytes - immunology; Care and treatment; Diagnosis; Disease Progression; DNA Mutational Analysis; Female; Gene mutations; Genes, Immunoglobulin - physiology; Genetic aspects; Health aspects; Histology, Pathological; Humans; Immunoglobulin Variable Region - genetics; Middle Aged; Molecular Sequence Data; Mutation - genetics; Primary Research; Rheumatoid arthritis; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; Synovial Membrane - immunology; Synovial Membrane - physiopathology
• ISSN: 1465-9905; 1478-6362; 1478-6354; 1478-6362; 1465-9913
• DOI: 10.1186/ar105

In the present study 55 IgVH genes amplified from three different anatomical regions of a rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patient were analyzed, adding further information on synovial B-cell maturation and recirculation in RA. This analysis demonstrated somatically mutated IgVh genes in all regions studied, with amino acid deletions and mixed IgVh molecules, suggesting the existence of a novel pathway to generate (auto) antibody specificities. Comparison of amino acid sequences of amplified genes that belong to the VH1 family (with predominantly the same germline counterpart) exhibited strong homology, indicating an apparently conserved mutational pattern. This suggests that the number of antigens that activate B cells in different locations is restricted. The most striking result was the finding of clonally related sequences in different anatomical regions, indicating a recirculation of activated B cells between the different affected joints.