title: Antigen-independent in vitro expansion of T cells does not affect the T cell receptor V beta repertoire.
abstract: Analysis of the variable chains (V alpha/V beta) of the specific T cell receptor (TCR) of organ-infiltrating T cells may provide further insights into the pathogenesis of many infectious diseases, malignancies, and autoimmune disorders. To determine the TCR V beta repertoire of these small T cell populations antigen-independent in vitro expansion is necessary but may select for certain T cell subpopulations. In this study various antigen independent T cell activation protocols were used to stimulate peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of six healthy blood donors, and TCR V beta molecules were analyzed by flow cytometry and semiquantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. In addition, the analysis of in vitro expanded liver-infiltrating T cells and autologous peripheral blood T cells derived from five patients with autoimmune hepatitis but none of six controls revealed a selective overexpression of single TCR V beta molecules in the liver tissue. In contrast to freshly isolated PBMC, no preferential expansion of single TCR V beta families was observed using phytohemagglutinin, anti-CD3 antibodies, or oxidative stress for antigen-independent T cell activation. In conclusion, antigen-independent T cell activation offers the chance to analyze small populations of organ-infiltrating T cells without skewing the TCR V beta repertoire.
authors.affiliation: I. Department of Internal Medicine, University of Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arenz
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Herzog-Hauff
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Meyer zum Büschenfelde
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Löhr
mesh_terms: D000906:Antibodies / Q000494:pharmacology; D017252:CD3 Complex; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D019693:Hepatitis, Autoimmune / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D017252:CD3 Complex; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta