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T cell receptor (TcR) β chain transgenic mice: Studies on allelic exclusion and on the TcR + γ/δ population
Author(s) -
Pircher Hanspeter,
Ohashi Pamela,
Miescher Guido,
Lang Rosemarie,
Zikopoulos Athanasios,
Bürki Kurt,
Mak Tak W.,
Robson MacDonald H.,
Hengartner Hans
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
european journal of immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.272
H-Index - 201
eISSN - 1521-4141
pISSN - 0014-2980
DOI - 10.1002/eji.1830200227
Subject(s) - allelic exclusion , t cell receptor , biology , transgene , cd8 , microbiology and biotechnology , population , genetically modified mouse , t cell , gene , antigen , immunology , genetics , immune system , demography , sociology
Abstract To study allelic exclusion of TcR genes we analyzed two types (I and II) of TcR β transgenic mice. T cells derived from both types of mice contained similar amounts of transgenic RNA transcripts; however, surface expression of the transgenic β chain was drastically reduced in type II compared to type I. In type I transgenic mice, productive rearrangements and expression of endogenous TcR β genes were suppressed whereas on T cells of type II mice, both transgenic and endogenous TcR β chains were expressed on the surface of the same cell. These findings suggest that allelic exclusion of TcR genes in β transgenic mice depends on amount and/or onset of transgene expression during thymic development. Furthermore, TcR γ rearrangements and the population of TcR γ/δ‐bearing double‐negative CD4 − CD8 − thymocytes were reduced fivefold in type I transgenic animals. However, the V γ usage and the γ/δ + dendritic epidermal cell populations appeared normal. RNase protection analysis further revealed low levels of transgenic TcR β chain transcripts in TcR + γ/δ CD4 − CD8 − thymocytes. These results suggest that the β transgene only quantitatively influences the γ/δ T cell compartment, and supports the independence of the γ/δ population.