The J beta segment of the T cell receptor contributes to the V beta-specific T cell expansion caused by staphylococcal enterotoxin B and Urtica dioica superantigens.
We have used a new polymerase chain reaction-based technique to analyze at the clonal level the CDR3 diversity and the J beta usage associated with the V beta-dependent T cell receptor (TCR) recognition of two superantigens: the staphylococcal enterotoxin B and the Urtica dioica agglutinin. Our results show that subset of J beta elements is preferentially expanded in a given V beta family, independently of the nature of the superantigen. By contrast, the CDR3 loop does not contribute significantly to the T cell expansion induced by the superantigens. We conclude that the J beta segment of the TCR beta chain, but not the CDR3 region, participates in superantigen binding, presumably by influencing the quaternary structure of the TCR beta chain.
Musette
P
P
Unité de Biologie Moléculaire du Gène, INSERM U277, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
Galelli
A
A
Truffa-Bachi
P
P
Peumans
W
W
Kourilsky
P
P
Gachelin
G
G
D000818:Animals; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000276:immunology*; D000939:Epitopes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology*; D037102:Lectins / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D037121:Plant Lectins; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000276:immunology*; D018089:Superantigens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000378:metabolism
D004768:Enterotoxins; D000939:Epitopes; D037102:Lectins; D037121:Plant Lectins; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D018089:Superantigens; C048862:stinging nettle lectin; C031818:enterotoxin B, staphylococcal