Abstract

The CD5 membrane molecule, initially identified as an exclusive T-cell marker, also defines a phenotypically and functionally distinct B-lymphocyte population. In normal individuals, CD5+ B cells are committed to secrete 'natural' polyreactive (auto)antibodies, that is antibodies, mainly IgM, endowed with multiple antigen-binding capabilities, including rheumatoid factor (RF) activity. At variance with this, in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as well as in other autoimmune conditions, monoreactive autoantibodies binding with high affinity and specificity to a given self antigen have been isolated and the cells from which they originate differently related to the CD5+ B-lymphocyte subset. Here, we studied the proportions of CD5+ B cells and the characteristics, in terms of polyreactivity and monoreactivity, of RF produced by B lymphocytes in RA patients with classified disease activity. Our results suggest that patients with a more severe disease activity have higher proportions of CD5+ B cells and higher frequencies of B lymphocytes committed to secrete RF, with the characteristics of polyreactive antibodies. On the other hand, we did not find a significant difference between the proportions of peripheral B cells producing monoreactive RF in patients with high- versus patients with low-activity RA. However, in two highly active RA patients, we found that synovial fluid, compared with peripheral blood, was significantly enriched for (IgG and IgA) monoreactive RF-producing B cells.