Open AccessChange in antigen specificity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes is associated with the rearrangement and expression of a T-cell receptor beta-chain gene.
Author(s) -
Jörg T. Epplen,
Frauke Bartels,
Andrea C. Becker,
Gabi Nerz,
Marlot Prester,
Augustinus Rinaldy,
Markus M. Simon
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.83.12.4441
Subject(s) - cytotoxic t cell , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , beta (programming language) , antigen , complementary dna , t cell receptor , t lymphocyte , gene , gene rearrangement , t cell , in vitro , immune system , genetics , computer science , programming language
Cloned H-Y-specific murine cytotoxic T lymphocytes, which alter antigen specificity in vitro ("aging"), simultaneously exhibit changes in the T-cell antigen receptor beta-chain rearrangements and respective mRNAs expressed. beta-chain cDNA clones were isolated from a library prepared from mRNA of aged killer T cells. The sequence of the beta-chain variable region element (VAK) was found to be identical with germ-line DNA. Four bases at the beta-chain diversity-joining region (D beta--J beta) junction cannot be explained by known germ-line D beta and J beta elements. These results illustrate that in T-cell clones altered antigen specificity correlates with a switch in productive beta-chain rearrangements of the T-cell receptor. When tested for its expression under physiological conditions, significant levels of VAK mRNA were found in normal lymphocyte populations.