T cell receptor V beta repertoire of double-negative alpha/beta T cells in patients with systemic sclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the T cell receptor V beta gene on double-negative (DN) alpha/beta T cells, which are increased in number, on peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).


METHODS
The DN alpha/beta T cells were sorted by flow cytometry from PBL obtained from 3 patients with SSc. The V beta repertoire was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
Only 1 or 2 V beta genes (V beta 5/7, 5, or 17) were predominantly expressed on DN alpha/beta T cells from these 3 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The V beta repertoire on DN alpha/beta T cells in PBL from patients with SSc is rather restricted.
Sakamoto
A
A
Second Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Chiba University, Japan.
Sumida
T
T
Maeda
T
T
Itoh
M
M
Asai
T
T
Takahashi
H
H
Yoshida
S
S
Koike
T
T
Tomioka
H
H
Yoshida
S
S
D001483:Base Sequence; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012313:RNA / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000235:genetics*; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA