Distinct antigen receptor repertoires of two classes of murine epithelium-associated T cells.
T lymphocytes are found not only as recirculating cells in the lymphoid system, but also as immobile cells in certain epithelia. T-cell antigen receptors (TCR) of both alpha/beta and gamma/delta-heterodimer subtypes can exhibit an extremely high degree of diversity. The diversity of alpha/beta TCRs derives from the use of a large number of variable (V) gene segments, as well as junctional diversity generated during rearrangement of these segments, whereas the diversity of gamma/delta TCRs derives largely from junctional elements, with a smaller contribution from a limited number of V gene segments. Many T cells in the epidermal and intestinal epithelia of mice express TCR composed of gamma/delta heterodimers. We demonstrate here that gamma/delta TCRs of T cells in both these tissues are restricted in V gene usage, with different elements predominating. The TCR junctional diversity of epidermal T cells, however, is extremely limited, whereas that of intestinal T cells is extremely diverse. The distinctive features of these two populations suggest that they develop or are selected differently for particular tissue-specific functions.
Asarnow
D M
DM
Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley 94720.
Goodman
T
T
LeFrancois
L
L
Allison
J P
JP
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000502:physiology; D004817:Epidermis / Q000276:immunology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000276:immunology*; D015329:Gene Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics*; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*
D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta