Apoptosis of Fashigh CD4+ synovial T cells by borrelia-reactive Fas-ligand(high) gamma delta T cells in Lyme arthritis

The function of the minor subset of T lymphocytes bearing the gamma delta T cell antigen receptor is uncertain. Although some gamma delta T cells react to microbial products, responsiveness has only rarely been demonstrated toward a bacterial antigen from a naturally occurring human infection. Synovial fluid lymphocytes from patients with Lyme arthritis contain a large proportion of gamma delta cells that proliferate in response to the causative spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi. Furthermore, synovial gamma delta T cell clones express elevated and sustained levels of the ligand for Fas (APO-1, CD95) compared to alpha beta T cells, and induce apoptosis of Fashigh CD4+ synovial lymphocytes. The findings suggest that gamma delta T cells contribute to defense in human infections, as well as manifest an immunoregulatory function at inflammatory sites by a Fas-dependent process

Therapies for Psoriatic Arthritis : Past, Present and Future

Fil: Sigal, Leonard H. Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Divisio of Rehumatology; United StatesThe molecular biology revolution has had a profound impact on the therapy of a number of auto-immune and/or inflammatory diseases, including psoriatic arthritis. Psoriatic arthritis is as prevalent as rheumatoid arthritis, establishing a need for better and safer therapies and making psoriatic arthritis a very profitable target for pharmaceutical companies the worldwide. Many pharmaceutical companies now seek approvals in rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis upon initial filing