Expression of activation-induced, T cell-derived, and chemokine-related cytokine/lymphotactin and its functional role in rheumatoid arthritis

Objective To evaluate the possible role of activation-induced, T cell–derived, and chemokine-related cytokine (ATAC)/lymphotactin (Lptn) in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods ATAC/Lptn levels in serum and synovial fluid samples were measured by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Expression of messenger RNA for ATAC/Lptn in synovial tissues was analyzed by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and by in situ hybridization, and was quantitated by real-time PCR. The phenotype of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) expressing ATAC/Lptn was analyzed by intracellular cytokine staining and flow cytometry. Results Levels of ATAC/Lptn were similar in sera and synovial fluids from RA patients (n = 20) and osteoarthritis controls (n = 15). In phorbol myristate acetate/ionomycin–stimulated PBMCs, ATAC/Lptn expression was detected in CD8+ T cells and in a significantly increased proportion of CD4+,CD28− T cells from RA patients as compared with healthy controls. In synovial tissues, ATAC/Lptn was predominantly localized in CD3+ T cells in the sublining layer. Lymphocytes, synovial macrophages, and, unexpectedly, fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) were identified as major target cells for ATAC/Lptn in RA synovium, as determined by analysis of the ATAC/Lptn receptor XCR1. In vitro, ATAC/Lptn stimulation of FLS resulted in a marked down-regulation of matrix metalloproteinase 2 production. Conclusion These data indicate that in RA synovium, ATAC/Lptn is mainly produced by T cells. Considering its function as a lymphocyte-specific chemoattractant, ATAC/Lptn might be a key modulator for T cell trafficking in the pathogenesis of RA. In addition, functional studies suggest that ATAC/Lptn may exert additional immunomodulatory effects in RA.