title: T cell antigen receptor V gene usage. Increases in V beta 8+ T cells in Crohn's disease.
abstract: Crohn's disease represents part of a spectrum of inflammatory bowel diseases characterized by immune regulatory defects and genetic predisposition. T cell antigen receptor V gene usage by T lymphocytes was investigated using four MAbs specific for various V gene products. One MAb (Ti3a), reactive with V beta 8 gene products, detected increased numbers of T cells in a subset of Crohn's disease patients as compared with normal controls and ulcerative colitis patients. In family studies there was no apparent inherited predisposition to the use of V beta 8 genes, and there was no association between a restriction fragment length polymorphism of the V beta 8.1 gene and Crohn's disease. The V beta 8+ T cells were concentrated in the mesenteric lymph nodes draining the inflammatory lesions and belonged to both the CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subsets. In contrast, lamina propria and intraepithelial T cells were not enriched in V beta 8+ T cells, suggesting that these cells were participating in the afferent limb of a gut-associated immune response. The expanded V beta 8+ T cells in Crohn's disease appear to result from an immune response to an as yet unknown antigen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Cornell University Medical College, New York 10021.
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Posnett
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Schmelkin
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Burton
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: August
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: McGrath
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Mayer
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D017252:CD3 Complex; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004848:Epithelium / Q000276:immunology; D015333:Gene Rearrangement, beta-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor; D005796:Genes; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology; D010375:Pedigree; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D017252:CD3 Complex; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta