Analysis of V_κ genes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovial B lymphocytes provides evidence for both polyclonal activation and antigen-driven selection

Abstract

To define mechanisms of sustained activation of synovial B lymphocytes in RA, we studied hybridomas established from the local synovial B cell repertoire of two RA patients for V_κ gene expression and for antigen-binding specificity. The analyses revealed that members of the main V_κ families (I, II and III) were utilized at frequencies consistent with random V_κ gene family use. Furthermore, although the hybridomas expressed genes frequently seen in response to other self- and exogenous antigens, only one V_κI- and two of three V_κIII-expressing hybridomas exhibited reactivity with self-antigens. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that all hybridomas, with the exception of rheumatoid factor (RF)-producing hybridomas, expressed V_κ genes highly related to known germ-line genes (99.3–100% homology) and that diversity was generated by deletions and random nucleotide insertions at the V_κ–J_κ junction. Examination of the few nucleotide changes seen within the V_κ genes revealed a predominance of silent to replacement changes. Moreover, most of these changes can be attributable either to allotypic variations or to limited random nucleotide replacements independent of antigen selection. In contrast, one IgG-RF (B4D8) exhibited predominantly replacement nucleotide changes in the complementarity-determining regions, suggestive of antigen-driven selection. The random expression of immunoglobulin variable region genes with no, or little, evidence of mutation in the synovial B lymphocyte repertoire, including natural polyreactive antibodies, alongside mutated IgG-RF, suggest that both polyclonal activation and antigen-driven responses occur in RA synovia.

Full Text

The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (536.3 KB).