title: [Change in the pattern of peripheral blood TCR V β gene repertoire in occupational lead-exposed workers].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the distribution and clonality of TCR Vβ subfamily in peripheral blood from workers exposed to lead,  in order to understand the change in T cell immunity of occupational lead-exposed workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  The CDR3 of TCR Vβ 24 subfamily genes was amplified in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 6 lead-exposed workers and 6 healthy individuals using RT-PCR,  the positive PCR products were further subjected by genescan analysis to identify T cell clonality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All 24 TCR Vβ subfamilies were detected in PBMC from 6 healthy individuals which all have polyclonal patterns. Only 1-7 Vβ subfamilies could be identified in lead-exposed workers. In detected TCR Vβ subfamilies,  almost oligoclonal and biclonal patterns which mainly in Vβ1 and Vβ16.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The restricted expression and clonal expansion of TCR Vβ subfamily have been found in occupational lead-exposed workers,  it may have some relationship with lead toxicity damage to the immune function.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hematology,  Medical College,   Jinan University,  Guangzhou 510632, China.
authors.forename: Si-chu
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yu-zhe
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.forename: Wei-wei
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zhi-qian
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Shao-hua
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Li-jian
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yang-qiu
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000235:genetics*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D007854:Lead