Low T-cell receptor (TCR)/CD28 signaling lymphocytes are expanded in arthritis. We asked whether the down-expression of TCR-related molecules correlates with specific arthritis characteristics and if it has clinical implications. TCR-ZETA, ZAP-70 and CD28 expression was measured by flow cytometry in synovial fluid (SF) and peripheral blood (PB)-derived T cells. In PB, ZETA-downregulation in CD4+ CD28+ and consequent CD4+ CD28lowZETAlow cell expansion correlate with CRP elevation, leukocyte recruitment into SF and, primarily, disease activity (DAS). In some patients, ZETA-downregulation extends to CD8+ CD28null and/or CD8+ CD28+ cells, and this correlates with enhanced leukocyte recruitment, multiple joint involvement, and disability index (HAQ). ZETA-downregulation in CD4+ CD28+ may also lead to CD4+ CD28+ ZETAnull cell expansion, which strongly correlates with HAQ. In SF, ZETA-downregulation in CD8+ CD28null and consequent CD8+ CD28nullZETAlow/null cell expansion correlate with CRP elevation and neutrophilic influx into SF, whereas ZAP-downregulation in CD8+ CD28+ and consequent CD8+ CD28lowZAPlow cell expansion strongly correlate with HAQ and DAS. ZETA-downregulation is preponderant in SF of seronegative arthritides, with seronegative rheumatoid arthritis showing significant down-regulation in CD8+ CD28null, and non-rheumatoid arthritides showing significant down-regulation in CD4+ CD28+ . Altogether, we identified new molecular and cellular biomarkers of arthritis-related T-cell inflammation, useful for assessing arthritis activity, predicting polyarticular progression and functional impairment, characterizing seronegative arthritides, and possibly tailoring immunotherapies.
KEYWORDS: Arthritis, CD28, T cells, TCR/CD3-zeta chain (ZETA), ZAP-70