title: The T-cell receptor Vbeta gene repertoire and clonal expansion from peripheral blood T cells in benzene-exposed workers in China.
abstract: The toxicity of benzene to lymphocytes is well known; however, little is known about the variety of T-cells that are rearranged after benzene exposure. In order to further understand the relative toxicity of benzene on T-cells, we investigated the features of the complementarity determining region 3 (CDR3) of T cells from benzene exposed workers. CDR3 of the T-cell receptor variable beta-chain (TCRVbeta) subfamily genes were amplified using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. The polymerase chain reaction products were further subjected to genescan analysis to evaluate the clonality of T cells. Results revealed 2-12 Vbeta subfamilies identified in 16 benzene-exposed workers. The number of detectable Vbeta subfamilies present in the benzene-exposed group was significantly lower than in the control group (p<0.05). The most frequently used Vbeta genes were Vbeta3, Vbeta21, Vbeta6, and Vbeta16. We observed a skewed distribution and clonal expansion of TCR Vbeta subfamilies in benzene-exposed workers.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hematology, Medical College, Jinan University, China.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yangqiu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Shaohua
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Lijian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Jiayu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Weiwei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001554:Benzene / Q000506:poisoning*; D002460:Cell Line; D002681:China; D002999:Clone Cells; D022801:Complementarity Determining Regions / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D019672:Genes, T-Cell Receptor / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D022801:Complementarity Determining Regions; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D001554:Benzene