title: Expression of two T cell receptor alpha chains: dual receptor T cells.
abstract: Although many T cells carry two in-frame V alpha rearrangements, the products of both V alpha rearrangements have never been shown simultaneously on the surface of normal cells. With the use of monoclonal antibodies to V alpha 2, V alpha 12, and V alpha 24, up to one-third of mature T cells expressed two V alpha chains as part of two functional and independent T cell receptors (TCRs). Thus, the "one cell, one receptor" rule does not apply to a large subset of alpha beta T cells. Cells that belong to this dual TCR subset may be specific for a broader range of antigens than cells with a single receptor, which may be important for autoimmunity and alloreactivity.
authors.affiliation: Basel Institute for Immunology, Switzerland.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Padovan
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Casorati
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dellabona
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brockhaus
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lanzavecchia
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001483:Base Sequence; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000032:analysis; D015332:Gene Rearrangement, alpha-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D017252:CD3 Complex; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta