Murine T cells with invariant gamma delta antigen receptors: origin, repertoire, and specificity.
T cells bearing invariant gamma delta T cell antigen receptors localize to distinct epithelial sites in the adult mouse. These gamma delta T cells differ from the lymphoid alpha beta and gamma delta T cells in several ways. The epithelial gamma delta T cells appear to be the product of the earliest waves of TCR expressing cells in the fetal thymus. Additionally, the rearranged TCR junctions exhibit a distinct lack of diversity, possibly a result of the fetal origin and a specialized selection process. The use of a single invariant TCR and strict tissue localization suggest that these gamma delta T cells may provide a specialized function in the epithelial tissues distinct from that of the circulating alpha beta and gamma delta T cells.
Havran
W L
WL
Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley 94720.
Carbone
A
A
Allison
J P
JP
D000818:Animals; D004848:Epithelium / Q000276:immunology; D000939:Epitopes; D005333:Fetus / Q000276:immunology; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D000939:Epitopes; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta