A subset of V delta 1+ T cells proliferates in response to Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B cell lines in vitro.

It has previously been shown that murine tissue derived T-cells expressing the gamma delta T-cell receptor can respond to autologous (stressed) cells implying the recognition of an autoantigen. Here we report that a large proportion of human synovial tissue and peripheral blood derived V delta 1+ gamma delta T-cell clones proliferate in response to stimulation with autologous and allogeneic EBV-transformed B-lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCL). In contrast, V delta 1- gamma/delta and alpha/beta TCR+ T-cell clones isolated from the same tissue samples did not display proliferation towards the LCL. The proliferative response of these V delta 1+ clones was dependent on contact between responder and stimulator cells and could be blocked by a MoAb to LFA-1 and by antibodies to the gamma delta TCR/CD3 complex. Because the responses of these clones to LCL cells appear to be independent of the gamma-chain co-expressed with the V delta 1-chain these resemble a superantigen response. The capacity of this subset of V delta 1+ T-cell clones to proliferate after stimulation with LCL may imply the recognition of an endogenous epitope. Moreover, since so far we have been able to isolate only LCL reactive gamma delta T-cell clones from synovial tissue and peripheral blood of reactive arthritis patients and not from peripheral blood of healthy individuals, the frequency of such 'autoreactive' gamma delta cells may be higher in these patients.