Use of variable human V delta genes to create functional T cell receptor alpha chain transcripts.
Previous studies of the human T cell receptor delta genes identified five commonly used V delta segments distinct from any of the known V alpha genes. To define better the relationship between the T cell receptor delta and alpha repertoires we amplified cDNA obtained by polyclonally activated lymphocytes with a common 3' antisense C alpha-specific primer and with five different 5' sense V delta family-specific primers. Amplified products were detected in staphylococcal enterotoxin C2, staphylococcal enterotoxin E, phytohemagglutinin, concanavalin A, anti-CD3 and anti-V beta 8-activated cells, although each cell population expressed a selective pattern of V delta genes. Sequence analysis revealed that each of the known V delta genes can productively rearrange to J alpha segments to produce functional V delta-J alpha-C alpha transcripts. These results argue strongly against the notion that the human V delta and V alpha repertoires are distinct. They further suggest that the restricted delta repertoire observed in many gamma/delta clones results from selection rather than from controlled rearrangements at the T cell receptor alpha/delta locus.
Sottini
A
A
Consorzio per le Biotecnologie-Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), University of Brescia, Italy.
Imberti
L
L
Fiordalisi
G
G
Primi
D
D
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D015332:Gene Rearrangement, alpha-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor; D016694:Gene Rearrangement, delta-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009841:Oligonucleotides / Q000737:chemistry; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000235:genetics*; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D009841:Oligonucleotides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta