title: Role of the T cell receptor alpha chain in the development and phenotype of naturally arising CD4+CD25+ T cells.
abstract: The T cell receptor alpha chain repertoire and the possible influence of the alpha chain on the development and phenotype of naturally arising mouse CD4+CD25+ T cells have not been extensively analysed. We used all available Valpha-specific monoclonal antibodies and a sensitive multiplex genomic DNA PCR assay to study the Valpha repertoire of CD4+CD25+ T cells in normal mice. To address whether CD4+CD25+ T cells express two TCR alpha chains, we have carried out four-colour flow cytometry using combinations of the available anti-Valpha reagents in mice where one allele of the TCRA locus had been inactivated. Results indicate that the Valpha repertoire of CD4+CD25+ T cells is as diverse as their CD25- partners. In addition, CD4+CD25+ T cells develop normally in Tcralpha+/- mice and we show for the first time that despite expressing only one TCRalpha chain, they retain their characteristic CD4(low), CD3(low), TCRbeta(low), CD5(high), CD45RB(low) and cytoplasmic CD152(high) phenotype.
authors.affiliation: Unité 548 INSERM, DRDC, CEA-G, 17 rue des Martyrs, F-38054 Grenoble, France. immuno@dsvgre.cea.fr
authors.forename: Nabil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bosco
authors.forename: Hsiu-Cheng
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pasqual
authors.forename: Evelyne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jouvin-Marche
authors.forename: Patrice N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Marche
authors.forename: Nicholas R J
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Gascoigne
authors.forename: Rhodri
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ceredig
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology; D015332:Gene Rearrangement, alpha-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor / Q000276:immunology*; D019673:Genes, T-Cell Receptor alpha / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D040641:Quantitative Trait Loci / Q000276:immunology; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2