Early expression of a T-cell receptor beta-chain transgene suppresses rearrangement of the V gamma 4 gene segment

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1988 Dec;85(24):9729-32. doi: 10.1073/pnas.85.24.9729.

Abstract

beta transgenic mice have a T-cell receptor beta-chain gene that is prematurely expressed on the surface of CD4- CD8- thymocytes and paired with an uncharacterized non-T-cell receptor alpha-chain polypeptide. The rearrangement of the T-cell receptor variable region gamma chain gene segment V gamma 4, a component of the gamma-chain gene that is rearranged and expressed preferentially on thymocytes of normal adult mice, is severely repressed in beta transgenic mice. Consequently no gamma delta T-cell receptor heterodimers are detectable on the surface of adult thymocytes or splenic T cells. These results indicate that cells expressing alpha beta or gamma (V gamma 4)-delta TCRs originate from a common precursor in which the first productive rearrangement of either the beta or gamma locus determines the further differentiation pathway into either alpha beta or gamma delta T cells. The repression of V gamma 4 rearrangement by a preexisting beta-chain gene may be indicative of one of several mechanisms which ensure that gamma delta and alpha beta receptors do not as a rule appear on the surface of the same cell.

MeSH terms

  • Alleles
  • Animals
  • Chromosome Mapping
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / genetics*
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta
  • T-Lymphocytes / analysis

Substances

  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta