Enhanced prevalence of T cell receptor V beta 7 gene family expression in human intestine-associated T lymphocytes.
Relative levels of expression of T cell receptor variable (V) beta and joining (J) beta gene segments were determined in T cells derived from intestinal biopsies of healthy mucosal areas, mesenteric lymph nodes and peripheral blood of the same individuals. Samples taken from patients suffering from inflammatory (n = 8) and non-inflammatory (n = 8) bowel diseases were analyzed by semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction-based methods. In the intestine, fewer (median = 3.5) V beta gene segments constituted more than 50% of the T cell receptor V beta repertoire compared to that of peripheral blood T cells (median = 7, P < 0.001). Interestingly, in all sixteen individuals studied, intestinal T lymphocytes (IL-T) expressed the V beta 7 gene family to a higher degree than did T cells in the paired peripheral blood and mesenteric lymph nodes (P < 0.001). T cell receptor J beta gene segment analyses of V beta 7+ T cells revealed no significant difference in oligoclonality rates between peripheral blood (4/16) and intestine (7/16) (P = 0.46). Hence, overexpression of intestinal TCR V beta 7 message does not seem to be due to oligoclonal expansions in the majority of the samples.
Esin
S
S
Microbiology and Tumorbiology Center, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. Semih.Esin@mtc.ki.se
Hodara
V
V
Jeddi-Tehrani
M
M
Grunewald
J
J
Svenberg
T
T
Andersson
R
R
Wigzell
H
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D005810:Multigene Family / Q000276:immunology*; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta