Restricted Heterogeneity in T-Cell Antigen Receptor VβGene Usage in the Lymph Nodes and Arthritic Joints of Mice

We have used PCR to study the expression of T-cell antigen receptor /beta RNA containing particular variable region (V) elements from transcripts directly in the cells isolated from joints and lymph nodes of B10.Q mice (H-2qimmmunized with chicken type II collagen. Our data show that the T cell present in arthritic joints expressed only a few Vβ transcripts-Vβ2 -6,-7,-8.2,-9,-10, and -15. Vβ6 and -8.2 were expressed prediominantly (six out of seven animals) while others were expressed at a relatively low level in different animals. In lymph node cells, transcripts for Vβ6,-8.2, and -9 were detected in four out of seven animals. The data indicate that in collagen-induced arthritis there is a restrictive usage of TCE Vβ elements and that Vβ6 and -8.2 are probably used preferentially.