Further analysis of the T cell receptor gamma/delta+ peripheral lymphocyte subset. The V delta 1 gene segment is expressed with either C alpha or C delta.
In the present study, we have characterized the reactivity of two mAbs that are directed at the human TCR-gamma/delta. These reagents, designated anti-A13 and anti-TiV delta 2, were found to recognize antigenic determinants encoded by the TCR V delta 1 and V delta 2 gene segments, respectively. Immunofluorescence analyses performed with the antibodies confirmed that, in the TCR-gamma/delta+ cell subpopulation, the expression of V delta 2+ delta chains is largely predominant, as compared with the V delta 1+ counterparts. However, these experiments led to an apparently discrepant finding. Indeed, the total number of cells recognized by the anti-A13 plus the anti-TiV delta 2 antibodies was often greater than that detected with anti-TCR-delta 1, a reagent specific for a constant epitope of the human delta chain. Further investigation showed that the presence of a sizeable peripheral lymphocyte subset coexpressing the BMA031 and the A13 epitopes. Because the former antibody is known to recognize an invariant antigenic determinant of the TCR-alpha/beta dimer, these results suggested that the V delta 1 gene segment may be expressed with either C delta or C alpha. This hypothesis was confirmed using T2, an IL-2-dependent BMA031+ A13+ polyclonal cell line developed from peripheral blood of a healthy adult donor. Indeed, T2 cells were found to have productively rearranged the V delta 1 gene. Together, results of Northern blot analysis and cDNA cloning indicated that V delta 1 was expressed in these cells as part of a 1.6-kb full-length message including J alpha-C alpha segments.
Miossec
C
C
Laboratoire d'Immunologie Cellulaire, Institut Gustave-Roussy, Villejuif, France.
Faure
F
F
Ferradini
L
L
Roman-Roman
S
S
Jitsukawa
S
S
Ferrini
S
S
Moretta
A
A
Triebel
F
F
Hercend
T
T
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D002460:Cell Line; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015342:DNA Probes; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains / Q000276:immunology; D010641:Phenotype; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015342:DNA Probes; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D004247:DNA