Proinflammatory Histidyl–Transfer <scp>RNA</scp> Synthetase–Specific <scp>CD</scp>4+ T Cells in the Blood and Lungs of Patients With Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies

Abstract

The results of this study demonstrate a pronounced presence of HisRS-reactive CD4+ T cells in PBMCs and BAL fluid cells from patients with IIM/antisynthetase syndrome as compared to patients with sarcoidosis and healthy controls. These findings, combined with the presence of anti-Jo-1 autoantibodies in BAL fluid and GC-like structures in the lungs, suggest that immune activation against HisRS might take place within the lungs of patients with IIM/antisynthetase syndrome.