SYNOVIAL LYMPHOCYTE-T-SPECIFIC IMMUNE-RESPONSE TO CHLAMYDIA-TRACHOMATIS IN REITERS DISEASE

We studied the lymphocyte proliferative response to Chlamydia trachomatis in Reiter's syndrome (RS) compared with that in other rheumatic diseases. RS patients showed significantly increased C trachomatis-specific synovial fluid (SF) T cell proliferation. Proliferating cells were found in both CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subsets. The SF lymphocyte proliferative response to C trachomatis in RS was inhibited by anti-class I and class II major histocompatibility complex monoclonal antibodies, while the response to tuberculin purified protein derivative was inhibited only by anti-class II monoclonal antibodies. T cell receptor gamma/delta-bearing T cells were not consistently increased in RS SF compared with peripheral blood, nor did such cells consistently expand upon in vitro culture with C trachomatis. Finally, there was no correlation between the cellular immune response and levels of antibody to C trachomatis antigens. Our results indicate that a specific T cell response to C trachomatis within the joint plays a role in the pathogenesis of RS.