A bias in the αβ T cell receptor variable region gene usage in Takayasu's arteritis

SUMMARY Takayasu's arteritis (TA) is a chronic large vessel vasculitis with a predilection for the aortic arch and its branches. T lymphocytes may be important in the pathogenesis, as they have been found to infiltrate the vascular lesions. To elucidate further the role of T cells in the disease, we studied circulating CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, expression of the activation marker (HLA-DR), marker for naive (CD45RA) and primed (CD45RO) cells and the different variable α/β (AV/BV) gene segments on them. The TCR AV/BV repertoire was studied using a panel of 15 T cell receptor (TCR) V-specific MoAbs by flow cytometry in 18 patients and 23 age- and sex-matched controls. Patients had a higher percentage of AV12S1 (P