{"entity": "publication", "iuid": "8493dbe83671457d8ed66f06607a83bf", "timestamp": "2026-08-20T20:49:44.107Z", "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/8493dbe83671457d8ed66f06607a83bf.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/8493dbe83671457d8ed66f06607a83bf"}}, "title": "Multi-HLA class II tetramer analyses of citrulline-reactive T cells and early treatment response in rheumatoid arthritis.", "authors": [{"family": "Gerstner", "given": "Christina", "initials": "C"}, {"family": "Turcinov", "given": "Sara", "initials": "S"}, {"family": "Hensvold", "given": "Aase H", "initials": "AH"}, {"family": "Chemin", "given": "Karine", "initials": "K"}, {"family": "Uchtenhagen", "given": "Hannes", "initials": "H"}, {"family": "Ramwadhdoebe", "given": "Tamara H", "initials": "TH"}, {"family": "Dubnovitsky", "given": "Anatoly", "initials": "A"}, {"family": "Kozhukh", "given": "Genadiy", "initials": "G"}, {"family": "R\u00f6nnblom", "given": "Lars", "initials": "L"}, {"family": "Kwok", "given": "William W", "initials": "WW"}, {"family": "Achour", "given": "Adnane", "initials": "A"}, {"family": "Catrina", "given": "Anca I", "initials": "AI"}, {"family": "van Baarsen", "given": "Lisa G M", "initials": "LGM"}, {"family": "Malmstr\u00f6m", "given": "Vivianne", "initials": "V", "orcid": "0000-0001-9251-8082", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/206e1bc761464dd3bc906afdee8c49c2.json"}}], "type": "journal article", "published": "2020-05-18", "journal": {"title": "BMC Immunol.", "issn": "1471-2172", "volume": "21", "issue": "1", "pages": "27", "issn-l": "1471-2172"}, "abstract": "HLA class II tetramers can be used for ex vivo enumeration and phenotypic characterisation of antigen-specific CD4+ T cells. They are increasingly applied in settings like allergy, vaccination and autoimmune diseases. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disorder for which many autoantigens have been described.\n\nUsing multi-parameter flow cytometry, we developed a multi-HLA class II tetramer approach to simultaneously study several antigen specificities in RA patient samples. We focused on previously described citrullinated HLA-DRB1*04:01-restricted T cell epitopes from \u03b1-enolase, fibrinogen-\u03b2, vimentin as well as cartilage intermediate layer protein (CILP). First, we examined inter-assay variability and the sensitivity of the assay in peripheral blood from healthy donors (n = 7). Next, we confirmed the robustness and sensitivity in a cohort of RA patients with repeat blood draws (n = 14). We then applied our method in two different settings. We assessed lymphoid tissue from seropositive arthralgia (n = 5) and early RA patients (n = 5) and could demonstrate autoreactive T cells in individuals at risk of developing RA. Lastly, we studied peripheral blood from early RA patients (n = 10) and found that the group of patients achieving minimum disease activity (DAS28 < 2.6) at 6 months follow-up displayed a decrease in the frequency of citrulline-specific T cells.\n\nOur study demonstrates the development of a sensitive tetramer panel allowing simultaneous characterisation of antigen-specific T cells in ex vivo patient samples including RA 'at risk' subjects. This multi-tetramer approach can be useful for longitudinal immune-monitoring in any disease with known HLA-restriction element and several candidate antigens.", "doi": "10.1186/s12865-020-00357-w", "pmid": "32423478", "labels": [], "xrefs": [{"db": "pmc", "key": "PMC7236297"}, {"db": "pii", "key": "10.1186/s12865-020-00357-w"}], "notes": [], "created": "2026-08-20T12:19:51.229Z", "modified": "2026-08-20T12:19:51.348Z"}