Expression of the V beta 5.1 gene by murine peripheral T cells is controlled by MHC genes and skewed to the CD8+ subset.
We have examined the usage of the V beta 5.1 region in peripheral T cell populations of several mouse strains by measuring V beta 5.1 transcript levels. The results show that V beta 5.1 is expressed predominantly by CD8+ T cells in mice of several MHC haplotypes. This finding suggests that V beta 5.1 may confer restriction to class 1 molecules present in these strains. Interestingly, however, T cells expressing V beta 5.1, like those expressing V beta 17a and V beta 11, are clonally deleted from both CD4 and CD8 subsets in mice that express MHC IE molecules. The latter result implies that V beta 5.1 confers reactivity to a class 2 molecule (IE). These results are discussed in terms of positive selection and clonal deletion. Finally we provide evidence that genes in the K or A regions of the MHC also control V beta 5.1 usage.
Liao
N S
NS
Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge 02139.
Maltzman
J
J
Raulet
D H
DH
D000818:Animals; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000502:physiology*; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex; D051379:Mice; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics*; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*
D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; C024138:I-E-antigen; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta