The autoreactive T cell population in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis: T cell receptor beta-chain rearrangements.
T cell receptor beta-chain gene rearrangements were examined in myelin basic protein (MBP)-reactive T cell lines and hybridomas from Lewis (Lew) rats. Nearly 75% of the cloned hybrids were specific for the major encephalitogenic determinant residues 68-88 of guinea pig (GP) MBP; three fine specificities could be distinguished. Southern blot analysis of receptor beta-chain genes revealed polyclonality and shared rearrangements not seen in non-68-88-specific clones. Generation of short-term, encephalitogenic Lew T cell lines revealed rearrangements shared with the 68-88-specific hybrids, indicating that the hybrids were representative of the whole antigen-specific population and suggesting restricted V beta gene usage within this polyclonal population.
Happ
M P
MP
Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA 19104.
Kiraly
A S
AS
Offner
H
H
Vandenbark
A
A
Heber-Katz
E
E
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D002999:Clone Cells; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000276:immunology; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics*; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D004676:Myelin Basic Protein; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell