Incomplete T cell receptor V beta allelic exclusion and dual V beta-expressing cells.
Recent studies have documented incomplete TCR V alpha-chain allelic exclusion and dual V alpha-bearing T cells. Herein, we show that V beta allelic exclusion is also incomplete, since a significant proportion of peripheral T cells express dual V beta in both TCR transgenic and normal mice. Studies in TCR transgenic mice indicated that although a small proportion of T cells escaped allelic exclusion in the thymus, dual V beta-expressing cells expanded dramatically in the periphery with age, and such expanded cells had an activated phenotype. Although not as pronounced, age-related increases in dual V beta-bearing cells were also observed in normal mice. These findings may have important implications for TCR selection and specificity, age-related repertoire changes, and autoimmune disease pathogenesis.
Balomenos
D
D
Department of Immunology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
Balderas
R S
RS
Mulvany
K P
KP
Kaye
J
J
Kono
D H
DH
Theofilopoulos
A N
AN
D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012313:RNA / Q000032:analysis; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D012313:RNA