Repertoire of transcribed peripheral blood T-cell-receptor beta chain variable-region genes in acute rheumatic fever

Patients with severe group A streptococcal infections have abnormalities in the V beta repertoire of peripheral blood T cells that are consistent with superantigen stimulation by cytoplasmic membrane proteins. The purpose of this study was to determine whether similar changes in V beta repertoire could be found for patients with acute rheumatic fever (ARF). The mean V beta repertoire of peripheral blood T cells in nine hospitalized ARF patients was similar to that of 34 controls and did not change during 6 months of follow-up in 6 of the ARP subjects. We were unable to detect changes in the V beta repertoire of peripheral blood T cells from patients with ARF that could be attributed to the influence of a superantigen.