A Linkage Study Across the T Cell Receptor A and T Cell Receptor B Loci in Families with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Objective: To examine whether the T cell receptor (TCR) A or TCRB loci exhibit linkage with disease in multiplex rheumatoid arthritis (RA) families.

Methods: A linkage study was performed in 184 RA families from the UK Arthritis and Rheumatism Council Repository, each containing at least 1 affected sibpair. The microsatellites D14S50, TCRA, and D14S64 spanning the TCRA locus and D7S509, Vbeta6.7, and D7S688 spanning the TCRB locus were used as DNA markers. The subjects were genotyped using a semiautomated polymerase chain reaction-based method. Two-point and multipoint linkage analyses were performed.

Results: Nonparametric single-marker likelihood odds (LOD) scores were 0.49 (P = 0.07) for D14S50, 0.65 (P = 0.04) for TCRA, 0.07 (P = 0.29) for D14S64, 0.01 (P = 0.43) for D7S509, 0.0 (P = 0.50) for Vbeta6.7, and 0.0 (P = 0.50) for D7S688. By multipoint analysis, there was no evidence of linkage at TCRB (LOD score 0), and the maximum LOD score at the TCRA locus was 0.37 (at D14S50). The presence of a susceptibility locus (LOD score < -2.0) was excluded, with lambda > or = 1.8 at TCRA and > or = 1.4 at TCRB.

Conclusion: These linkage studies provide no significant evidence of a major germline-encoded TCRA or TCRB component of susceptibility to RA.