title: Characterization of the human T cell receptor alpha-chain repertoire and demonstration of a genetic influence on V alpha usage.
abstract: Despite considerable knowledge of the determinants and profile of the T cell receptor (TCR) beta-chain repertoire, very little is known about the repertoire of the V alpha and J alpha segments of the TCR in man or mouse. We have used the anchored polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to analyze the human TCR alpha-chain repertoire at the mRNA level in peripheral blood lymphocytes. We find marked differences in the usage of individual V alpha segments. The V alpha repertoire is determined both by differences in the use of individual V alpha gene segments at the time of gene rearrangement and by genetic influences on the selection of the expressed V alpha repertoire, presumably during thymic maturation. Analysis of the J alpha repertoire shows non-random usage of individual J alpha segments but no obvious relationship to chromosomal position. We also report three new V alpha segments, three new J alpha segments and possible allelic variation in V alpha gene segments. Two unusual TCR alpha transcripts are described which add new information on the nature of TCR alpha transcript assembly.
authors: Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford, GB.
authors: P A
authors: PA
authors: Moss
authors: W M
authors: WM
authors: Rosenberg
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Zintzaras
authors: J I
authors: JI
authors: Bell
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta