title: Beta-chain gene rearrangements and V beta gene usage in DPw2-specific T cells.
abstract: The diversity of human T cell receptor beta-chain gene rearrangements and variable region gene usage in the T cell response to a single allogeneic class II HLA gene product has been investigated. Nine clones of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (8.2 to 8.10) that are specific for the class II specificity DPw2 were analyzed for their T cell receptor beta-chain gene rearrangements using a constant-region probe. A minimum of seven different clonotypes were present in this panel of clones. The beta-gene expressed by one clone, 8.9, was isolated and the variable (V), diversity (D), and joining (J) segments were sequenced. The sequence of the V beta 8.9 segment is identical to the V beta 14 sequence, and is joined to D beta 1.1 and J beta 1.1 segments. Northern analysis revealed that three of the eight clones analyzed, 8.5, 8.7, and 8.9, expressed a 1.3 kb transcript that hybridized with the V beta 8.9 probe, indicating that these clones were using the same V beta gene (these clones shared common DNA rearrangements). The remaining five clones did not express V beta 8.9. Southern analysis of DNA obtained from a DPw2-specific tertiary mixed lymphocyte reaction bulk culture from which the clones were derived showed a prominent rearrangement of the V beta 8.9 gene that was indistinguishable from those observed for clones 8.5, 8.7, and 8.9. This prominent rearrangement of V beta 8.9 was not observed in DNA obtained from normal peripheral blood lymphocytes. These results suggest that although the number of V beta genes which can contribute to a DPw2 specificity may be relatively large, only a limited number of clonotypes ultimately predominate in the response to certain class II HLA antigens.
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D002999:Clone Cells; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005796:Genes; D006681:HLA-D Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006682:HLA-DP Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000235:genetics*; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics*; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D006681:HLA-D Antigens; D006682:HLA-DP Antigens; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes