Biased expression of individual T cell receptor V gene segments in CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ human peripheral blood T lymphocytes

Abstract

The expression of seven different alpha and beta gene segments of the T cell receptor on normal human CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes, respectively, was examined using V gene-specific monoclonal antibodies. We found a statistically significant (p less than 0.001) bias of the expression of four V gene products towards the CD4+ subpopulation. In every individual analyzed, the V beta 5.1 gene segment was expressed to a higher degree among CD4+ compared to CD8+ cells, with a median value of 4.8% among CD4+ cells and 1.5% among CD8+ cells. There was also a statistically significant skewness in the usage of the V beta 6.7, V beta 8 and V beta 12 gene segments towards the CD4+ T cell population, but not as dominating as for the V beta 5.1. Lymphocytes from umbilical cord blood showed similar skewed reactivities for the V beta 5.1, V beta 6.7 and V beta 12-specific monoclonal antibodies. Aspects of positive and negative selection, as possible explanations for these findings, are discussed.

Analysis of the T‐Cell Receptor Vβ Usage in Monozygotic and Dizygotic Twins Living in a Plasmodium falciparum Endemic Area in West Africa

“…For this purpose we used seven commonly used monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs), directed against different gene products of the Vb TCR, to investigate the frequencies of CD4 + and CD8 + T cells carrying these products. We report here that, despite the great individual variation in the usage of particular Vb genes, the overall profile was similar to that described for Caucasians using the same panel of MoAbs [16]. The frequencies of cells expressing particular TCR Vb genes were not influenced by the level of anti-malarial antibody titres or densities, indicating that the P. falciparum parasite is not a dominating factor in influencing the peripheral T cell repertoire.…”

“…Thus, we reasoned that if ethnic and/or environmental factors such as malaria were important in determining Vb gene frequencies, the percentages of positive cells stained with particular antibodies would be distinct from those seen in a Caucasian population. Although there was a variation in the usage of particular Vb genes in individual donors, the repertoire for the whole group was similar to that described for Caucasians [16,23] and other populations [23] using a similar panel of Vb segment specific antibodies. The frequencies of cells expressing particular TCR Vb genes were not influenced by the level of anti-malarial antibody titres or densities of malaria parasites.…”

T‐Cell Receptor BJ Gene Segment Expression in Human Umbilical Cord Blood CD4+ and CD8+ T‐Cell Subsets

“…Additionally, TCR BV genes and their products have been reported to be expressed in a highly disproportional manner, varying in frequencies during ontogeny [21,39,40,42,45]. Although usage of individual BVs in unfractionated thymocytes from different individuals is statistically similar [42], they appear to be expressed at different frequencies within the peripheral Tcell pool whereas the BJ usage patterns in PBL T cells and thymocytes are similar [15,16,42].…”

Large granular lymphocyte expansions in patients with Felty's syndrome: analysis using anti-T cell receptor Vβ-specific monoclonal antibodies

“…Since this study was commenced it has become apparent ihat there are differences between TCR V3 usage by CD4 and CD8 cells [27,28]. Infections involving bacterial superantigens, however, can lead to alterations of both the CD4 and CD8 repertoires.…”