Restricted usage of T-cell receptor Vγ-Vδ genes and expression of costimulatory molecules in Takayasu's arteritis

To further investigate the immunological mechanisms involved in Takayasu's arteritis, we analyzed the T-cell receptor (TCR) V gamma and V delta gene usage by infiltrating gamma delta T-cells and the expression of costimulatory molecules B7-1, B7-2, CD40, CD27 ligand (CD27L), CD30L, OX40L in the arterial tissue of a patient with Takayasu's arteritis. We found that the repertoires of TCR V gamma as well as V delta gene transcripts of the infiltrating cells were restricted as compared with those of peripheral blood lymphocytes from a patient with Takayasu's arteritis. This strongly suggests that gamma delta T-cells as well as alpha beta T-cells, as we previously reported, were specifically involved in the pathogenesis of Takayasu's arteritis. We also found that B7-1, B7-2, CD40, CD27L, CD30L, and OX40L were expressed in the arterial tissue, suggesting the roles for these costimulatory molecules in T-cell-mediated vascular injury in Takayasu's arteritis. Our findings strongly support the involvement of T-cell-mediated immunological mechanisms in the pathogenesis of Takayasu's arteritis. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.