title: Analysis of the T cell repertoire using the PCR and specific oligonucleotide primers.
abstract: Applications of PCR have revolutionized the field of immunogenetics particularly in studies of human leukocyte antigen class II polymorphism and more recently in the analysis of T cell receptor usage. The diversity of the variable region of the T cell receptor, however, has made it difficult to amplify the complete repertoire of T cell receptor transcripts. We have chosen to address this problem through the design of oligonucleotide primers specific for each of the known V alpha- and V beta-region T cell receptor families in order to characterize the T cell receptor repertoire. Using nonradioactive probes labeled with horse radish peroxidase, the system presented here allows for the rapid elucidation of the T cell receptor repertoire expressed in cells or tissue samples, such as those derived from autoimmune lesions. The identification of the T cell receptor repertoire involved in a pathogenic process can have therapeutic implications given the success of reversing experimental autoimmune disorders by directing specific forms of immunotherapy against V region gene products.
authors.affiliation: Stanford University School of Medicine.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Panzara
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gussoni
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Steinman
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Oksenberg
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D015329:Gene Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013698:Templates, Genetic
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D004247:DNA