A T cell receptor V alpha region selectively expressed in CD4+ cells.
The peripheral TCR V beta repertoire is strongly influenced by the processes of negative selection (deletion) and positive selection in the thymus. In order to investigate whether such selection events influence the V alpha repertoire, we have produced an anti-V alpha 11 mAb. This antibody was made by immunization with a chimeric TCR:Ig protein containing V alpha 11 in place of the VH of an IgG2a, lambda Ig. This scheme optimizes the specificity of immunization and facilitates the screening procedure. The antibody recognizes a panel of V alpha 11-expressing T cell clones. Analysis of mouse strains indicates that the antibody recognizes V alpha 11 only in mice of the C57 background. The expression of the epitope on peripheral T cells is strongly biased to the CD4+ subset, suggesting positive selection of V alpha 11 on class II MHC molecules. In some strain comparisons, the percentage of V alpha 11-expressing T cells in the CD4+ subset was elevated in I-E+ relative to I-E- strains. These data suggest that V alpha 11 can differentially influence the selection of T cells into the CD4+/CD8+ subsets.
Department of Immunology, Research Institute of Scripps Clinic, La Jolla, CA 92037.
S C
SC
Jameson
J
J
Kaye
N R
NR
Gascoigne
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D000939:Epitopes; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015870:Gene Expression; D015332:Gene Rearrangement, alpha-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor; D005799:Genes, Dominant; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D016747:Minor Lymphocyte Stimulatory Antigens; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D000939:Epitopes; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; C024138:I-E-antigen; D016747:Minor Lymphocyte Stimulatory Antigens; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta