Biased expression of individual T cell receptor V gene segments in CD4+ and CD8+ human peripheral blood T lymphocytes.
The expression of seven different alpha and beta gene segments of the T cell receptor on normal human CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes, respectively, was examined using V gene-specific monoclonal antibodies. We found a statistically significant (p less than 0.001) bias of the expression of four V gene products towards the CD4+ subpopulation. In every individual analyzed, the V beta 5.1 gene segment was expressed to a higher degree among CD4+ compared to CD8+ cells, with a median value of 4.8% among CD4+ cells and 1.5% among CD8+ cells. There was also a statistically significant skewness in the usage of the V beta 6.7, V beta 8 and V beta 12 gene segments towards the CD4+ T cell population, but not as dominating as for the V beta 5.1. Lymphocytes from umbilical cord blood showed similar skewed reactivities for the V beta 5.1, V beta 6.7 and V beta 12-specific monoclonal antibodies. Aspects of positive and negative selection, as possible explanations for these findings, are discussed.
Grunewald
J
J
Department of Immunology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
Janson
C H
CH
Wigzell
H
H
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell