Myelin basic protein-specific and TCR V beta 8.2-specific T-cell lines from TCR V beta 8.2 transgenic mice utilize the same V alpha and V beta genes: specificity associated with the V alpha CDR3-J alpha region.
Our analysis of TCR V gene usage in mice transgenic for the V beta 8.2 gene has demonstrated that T cells isolated from the spinal cord of these transgenic mice during active experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis were significantly biased for V alpha 2 expression. This V alpha 2 bias was noted in T cells derived from the periphery as well but only after stimulation with specific antigen. Thus, spinal cord-derived pathogenic T cells had already undergone activation and expansion within the central nervous system environment of these mice. As part of an investigation of regulatory function in these V beta 8.2 transgenic mice, two T cell lines were selected. The first T cell line is encephalitogenic and specific for the dominant myelin basic protein peptide NAc1-11, while the second T cell line is specific for the V beta 8.2 protein. Surprisingly, polymerase chain reaction and sequence analysis of the TCR from both the T cell lines demonstrated that they utilize identical V beta, D beta, J beta, and V alpha gene segments. The only difference found was in their use of the J alpha gene segment, indicating that this region of the TCR molecule can play a key role in determining antigen specificity.
Buenafe
A C
AC
Department of Neurology, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, USA.
Tsu
R C
RC
Bebo
B
B
Vandenbark
A A
AA
Offner
H
H
D000818:Animals; D000918:Antibody Specificity / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000235:genetics*; D010641:Phenotype; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000235:genetics*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*
D004676:Myelin Basic Protein; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta