Coordinated V gamma and V delta gene segment rearrangements in human T cell receptor gamma/delta+ lymphocytes

• Published in: European journal of immunology Vol. 19; no. 7; p. 1261
• Main Authors: Sturm, E, Braakman, E, Bontrop, R E, Chuchana, P, Van de Griend, R J, Koning, F, Lefranc, M P, Bolhuis, R L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany 01.07.1989
• Subjects: Antibodies, Monoclonal - immunology; Blotting, Southern; Disulfides; Gene Rearrangement, gamma-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor; Gene Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte; Humans; Precipitin Tests; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell - genetics; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell - immunology; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; T-Lymphocytes - physiology
• ISSN: 0014-2980
• DOI: 10.1002/eji.1830190717

Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) were used to characterize a panel (n = 46) of T cell receptor (TcR) gamma/delta+ T cell clones. Three of these antibodies have been described to react with specific variable region-encoded protein products and can therefore be used to detect functional gene rearrangements. The majority of peripheral blood-derived clones (43 out of 45) expressed the epitopes recognized by mAb BB3, encoded by the V delta 2 gene segment and mAb Ti gamma A, encoded by the V gamma 9 gene segment. These clones lacked the antigenic determinant recognized by mAb delta-TCS-1, encoded by the V delta 1 gene segment. The other two peripheral blood-derived clones and an ascites-derived clone were Ti gamma A-, BB3- and delta-TCS-1+. Biochemical analysis revealed that all Ti gamma A+, BB3+ T cell clones expressed the disulfide-linked form of the receptor. The two peripheral blood-derived delta-TCS-1+ T cell clones expressed the nondisulfide-linked form whereas the ascites-derived delta-TCS-1+ clone, AK119 expressed the disulfide-linked form of the TcR gamma/delta heterodimer. This indicates that V delta 1-encoded delta chains can be associated either with a C gamma 1- or a C gamma 2-encoded gamma chain. The preferential use of certain V gamma and V delta gene segments suggests the existence of a limited combinatorial diversity in TcR gamma/delta heterodimers, i.e. Ti gamma A+ (V gamma 9), BB3+ (V delta 2) and delta-TCS-1- disulfide-linked heterodimers and Ti gamma A-, BB3- and delta-TCS-1+ (V delta 1) disulfide- or non disulfide-linked forms.