Open AccessSkewed T ‐cell receptor beta chain variable gene ( TCRBV ) usage among different clinical types of patients with chronic HBV infection
Author(s) -
Yang Jiezuan,
Chen Jiajia,
Mao Hejun,
Yi Ping,
Yan Dong,
He Jianqin,
Li Lanjuan
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
fems immunology & medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1574-695X
pISSN - 0928-8244
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-695x.2012.00969.x
Subject(s) - biology , peripheral blood mononuclear cell , gene , hepatitis b virus , virology , gene rearrangement , polymerase chain reaction , immunology , virus , genetics , in vitro
This study aimed to determine the degree of clonal expansion of T cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells ( PBMC s) isolated from patients suffering from different clinical types of hepatitis B ( HB ) infection and to analyse the clinical relevance of the skewed T ‐cell receptor beta variable ( TCRBV ). Sera and PBMC s were collected from 90 HB patients. Gene melting spectral pattern ( GMSP ) analysis was used to determine the distribution and expansion of populations expressing specific TCRBV complementary determined region 3 ( CDR 3) genes. TCRBV genes associated with monoclonal expansion were sequenced. TCRBV families from the majority of patients (80/90) displayed skewed T ‐cell expansion. Furthermore, TCRBV 11, BV 12 and BV 13.1 were more frequent than other TCRBV genes; the sequence of TCRBV 11 CDR 3 was expressed as ‘ VYNEQ ’ in all patients and was accompanied by the BJ 2.1 fragment. In patients with chronic HB , the frequency of skewed TCRBV was inversely correlated with hepatitis B virus ( HBV ) DNA levels. The persistently skewed TCRBV gene families in HB patients may be associated with the development and maintenance of hepatitis. GMSP analysis of TCRBV gene families may be helpful in estimating disease status, and BV 11 may be associated with HBV replication in patients with chronic HBV infection.