Lack of association of T cell receptor Vβ8 polymorphism with rheumatoid arthritis in United Kingdom and Italian white patients

Abstract

Objectives - To study if the reported association of a BamH I 2kb RFLP of the T cell receptor Vβ8 gene with DR4+ rheumatoid arthritis patients is found in non-American white populations. Methods - The frequency of this RFLP in two different populations was analysed. Eighty one northern Italians were studied for HLA-DR genotypes and Vβ8 polymorphism, and 29 DR4+ British white patients were studied for Vβ8 polymorphism. Results of association between the Vβ8 RFLP and DR4 was found with rheumatoid arthritis in both groups. Conclusion - The reported Vβ8-DR4 association is not generally applicable. The lack of association in our populations may be due to genetic differences, or to differences in factors which shaped the T cell repertoire.