Vβ Expression in Healthy Subjects and during Streptococcal Infection

To the Editor-Using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method, Watanabe-Ohnishi et al. [1] found a decrease in the proportions of T cells expressing V(31, V(35.1, and V(312, with no increase in any other V(3 subsets, after severe group B streptococcal infections. In contrast, an expansion of the V(32-expressing subset of T lymphocytes has been documented by flow cytometry (FACS) in 2 cases of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome [2]. Further, the control data in these two studies differed significantly as have reports of the proportions ofV(32 and V(38cells in normal subjects [1-8]. Watanabe-Ohnishi et al. reported the normal percentage ofV(32 cells as 15% (all other estimates have been 6.5%9%), and their normal percentage ofV(38 was 5% (other estimates have been 2.5%-9%). Three variables might account for these findings. First, the techniques used (PCR vs. FACS) may be responsible. Second, control populations may vary widely in their expression ofthese chains-a biphasic distribution ofV(32expression has been described [6] and expression may be HLA linked [9]. Third, it is possible that the proportions of CD4 or CD8 cells differ in control populations; expression of V(3 chains differ in these subsets [8]. A practical method to enable the comparison of different data sets would be to document characteristics of T cell populations in addition to their V(3chain expression. Such features should include the V(3distribution on CD4 and CD8 cells and measures of T cell activation, such as the expression of surface interleukin-2 receptor, CD45 isoform, or expression of a marker cytokine gene. With dual