title: Highly restricted diversity of TCR delta chains of the amphibian Mexican axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) in peripheral tissues.
abstract: Gammadelta T cells localize at mammalian epithelial surfaces to exert both protective and regulatory roles in response to infections. We have previously characterized the Mexican axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) T cell receptor delta (TRD) chain. In this study, TRD repertoires in spleen, liver, intestine and skin from larvae, pre-adult and adult axolotls were examined and compared to the thymic TRD repertoire. A TRDV transcript without N/D diversity, TRDV1S1-TRDJ1, dominates the TRD repertoires until sexual maturation. In adult tissues, this canonical transcript is replaced by another dominant TRDV1S1-TRDJ1 transcript. In the thymus, these two transcripts are detected early in development. Our results suggest that gammadelta T cells that express the canonical TRDV1S1-TRDJ1 transcript emerge from the thymus and colonize the peripheral tissues, where they are selectively expanded by recurrent ligands. This particular situation is probably related to the neotenic state and the slow development of the axolotl. In thymectomized axolotls, TRD repertoires appear different from those of normal axolotls, suggesting that extrathymic gammadelta T cell differentiation could occur. Gene expression analysis showed the importance of the gut in T cell development.
authors.affiliation: UMR 7622, National Centre for Scientific Research, and Hôpital Pitié Salpêtrière, Pierre and Marie Curie University, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Sébastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: André
authors.forename: Fabienne
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kerfourn
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Affaticati
authors.forename: Aline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guerci
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ravassard
authors.forename: Julien S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Fellah
mesh_terms: D000558:Ambystoma mexicanum; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004253:DNA Nucleotidylexotransferase / Q000235:genetics; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression; D016694:Gene Rearrangement, delta-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D051740:Ikaros Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics; D007107:Immune System / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D007422:Intestines / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000235:genetics; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D012867:Skin / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D013154:Spleen / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; C064658:RAG-1 protein; D051740:Ikaros Transcription Factor; D004253:DNA Nucleotidylexotransferase