title: Skewed T cell receptor V alpha repertoire among superantigen reactive murine T cells.
abstract: Reactivity of murine T cells with viral or bacterial superantigens is clearly correlated with the expression of TCR V beta domains. Thus, T cells responding to the minor lymphocyte stimulatory locus (Mls-1a) or staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) express predominantly TCR V beta 6 or V beta 8.2 respectively. We have investigated the involvement of the other major variable element of the TCR, the V alpha domain, in these superantigen responses. Using a panel of anti-TCR V alpha mAbs, it is demonstrated that the TCR V alpha repertoire among superantigen stimulated V beta 6+ or V beta 8.2+ blasts (responding to Mls-1a or SEB respectively in vitro) is altered in comparison with anti-CD3 stimulated cells expressing the same V beta domains. Furthermore, the TCR V alpha repertoire is strongly skewed in TCR V beta 8.2 transgenic mice that have undergone extensive peripheral clonal deletion after SEB injection. These data imply that the V alpha domain influences superantigen recognition by the TCR.
authors.affiliation: Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, Epalinges, Switzerland.
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Waanders
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Lussow
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: MacDonald
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000276:immunology; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000276:immunology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D016747:Minor Lymphocyte Stimulatory Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000276:immunology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D017252:CD3 Complex; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D004768:Enterotoxins; D016747:Minor Lymphocyte Stimulatory Antigens; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; C031818:enterotoxin B, staphylococcal; D006854:Hydrocortisone