SELECTIVE EXPRESSION OF V-BETA FAMILIES BY T-CELLS IN THE BLOOD AND SALIVARY-GLAND INFILTRATE OF PATIENTS WITH PRIMARY SJOGRENS-SYNDROME

Objective. The T cell infiltration of the salivary gland of patients with Sjogren's syndrome (SS) has been implicated in the pathogenic process of the disease. We examined the representation of VB subsets in the blood and salivary tissue of patients with SS. Methods. Circulating T cells from 12 patients and paired samples of blood and labial salivary glands obtained from 8 patients were studied. A panel of monoclonal antibodies directed against the variable region of the T cell receptor was used to enumerate the cells expressing V beta families in the peripheral blood by flow cytometry, and in tissue sections by immunofluorescence. Results. We found an increase of cells bearing V beta 2 family gene products in the circulation, and an increase in both V beta 2 and V beta 8 in the salivary gland infiltrate of patients with SS. No significant difference was noted between the 5 DR3+ patients and 7 DR3- patients studied with regard to the VR families seen. Conclusion. Our data are consistent with a role for specific T cell families in the pathogenesis of SS.