Limited diversity of gamma delta antigen receptor genes of Thy-1+ dendritic epidermal cells.
T cells bearing gamma delta antigen receptors constitute minor populations in most peripheral lymphoid tissues but represent the major populations of T cells in certain epithelia, including the epidermis. We show that murine dendritic epidermal cell (dEC) clones express V gamma and V delta gene segments, which are rare in adult T cells but predominate in fetal thymocytes. Analysis of the junctions of the rearranged gamma and delta genes shows a striking homogeneity among the receptors of five dEC clones. Our data support a model in which dECs represent one of perhaps several waves of emigrants from the early fetal thymus, and imply a role for dECs in immune surveillance that is distinct from that of alpha beta- and other gamma delta-bearing T cells.
Asarnow
D M
DM
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Berkeley 94720.
Kuziel
W A
WA
Bonyhadi
M
M
Tigelaar
R E
RE
Tucker
P W
PW
Allison
J P
JP
D000483:Alleles; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D005784:Gene Amplification; D015334:Gene Rearrangement, gamma-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics*; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000196:embryology
D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta