Expression and sequences of T cell antigen receptor beta-chain genes in the thymus at an early stage after sublethal irradiation

Journal Article · Mon May 15 04:00:00 EDT 1989 · J. Immunol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6073184

Yuuki, H; Yoshikai, Y; Kishihara, K; Matsuzaki, G; Ayukawa, K; Nomoto, K

The sequential appearance of the thymocyte subpopulations and TCR gene messages occurred in the thymus of AKR mice (H-2k, Mlsa) from 7 to 14 days after sublethal irradiation. The thymocytes on day 7 after irradiation were composed of a large number of CD4+CD8+ blast-like cells and a relatively high proportion of CD4-CD8- cells (15 to 25%) but few CD3highCD4+CD8-/CD4-CD8+ cells. Approximately 22% of the CD4-CD8- cells were CD3high and -27% of the CD3highCD4-CD8- cells (-6% of whole CD4-CD8- cells) were F23.1+. The thymocytes on day 7 expressed a large amount of gamma- and delta-chain gene transcripts but reduced levels of alpha- and beta-chain gene transcripts. The V gene repertoire of 18 functional beta-chain cDNA derived from the thymocytes on day 7 was compared with those of 20 functional beta-chain cDNA derived from the thymocytes on day 14 which were composed of a large number of CD3lowCD4+CD8+ small-sized cells and a small number of CD3highCD4+CD8- cells. It is noteworthy that the distribution of V beta genes expressed in the thymocytes on day 7 was much the same as that in the thymocytes on day 14 but significantly different from that in normal BALB/c thymocytes as previously described. Interestingly, neither V beta 8.1 nor V beta 6 genes, which are important for recognition of the product of the Mlsa locus, was detected in these two cDNA libraries. These results suggest that clonal selection of TCR V beta repertoire, irrespective of positive or negative selection, appears to occur at the early stage of T cell differentiation, i.e., on the blast-like CD4+CD8+ thymocytes.

• Research Organization: Kyushu Univ., Fukuoka (Japan)
• OSTI ID: 6073184
• Journal Information: J. Immunol.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Immunol.; (United States) Vol. 142:10; ISSN JOIMA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560152* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Animals
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AMINO ACID SEQUENCE
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
ANTIGENS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
CELL DIFFERENTIATION
CHIMERAS
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
DNA
GENE REGULATION
GENES
GLOBULINS
IMMUNOGLOBULINS
IRRADIATION
LEUKOCYTES
LYMPHATIC SYSTEM
LYMPHOCYTES
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
MEMBRANE PROTEINS
MICE
MOLECULAR STRUCTURE
MOSAICISM
NUCLEIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PHENOTYPE
PROTEINS
RADIATION CHIMERAS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RECEPTORS
RODENTS
SOMATIC CELLS
SUBLETHAL IRRADIATION
THYMOCYTES
THYMUS
VERTEBRATES