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Molecular analysis of the γδ T‐cell receptor repertoire in normal human skin and in Oriental Cutaneous Leishmaniasis
Author(s) -
Alaibac M.,
Daga A.,
Harms G.,
Morris J.,
Yu R. C. H.,
Zwingerberger K.,
Chu A. C.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
experimental dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.108
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1600-0625
pISSN - 0906-6705
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0625.1993.tb00017.x
Subject(s) - t cell receptor , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , delta , gene , polymerase chain reaction , t cell , immunology , virology , genetics , immune system , engineering , aerospace engineering
The extent of diversity of the γδ T‐cell receptor (TCR) in normal human skin and Oriental Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (OCL) was examined by molecular analysis of the variable (V) δ gene segment, junctional (J) δ gene segment and junctional regions. To examine the expression of TCR δ genes, segments of γδ T lymphocytes, DNA isolated from normal human skin and from OCL were subjected to enzymatic gene amplification by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method using TCR Vδ‐and Jδ‐specific oligonucleotides as primers. PCR amplification using these primers indicated that the Vδ2 gene segment was predominantly used by γδ T lymphocytes in both normal human skin and OCL. To determine the extent of junctional diversity in the δ gene of γδ T cells in normal human skin and OCL, we sequenced the nucleic acid sequences corresponding to the V δ2/Jδ1 junctional regions. Sequence analysis of junctional regions demonstrated broad junctional diversity in normal skin but only limited diversity in OCL. Our findings support the hypothesis that skin γδ T lymphocytes may derive from a fetal subset of γδ T lymphocytes that leaves the thymus early and colonizes (he periphery. The limited junctional diversity demonstratd in OCL lesions indicates that γδ T cells can undergo oligoclonal expansion following recognition of a specific ligand and supports the idea that junctional regions are important in the recognition of antigenic determinant.