TY - JOUR
T1 - Functional α and β T cell chain receptor messages can be detected in old but not in young athymic mice
AU - Kishihara, Kenji
AU - Yoshikai, Yasunobu
AU - Matsuzaki, Goro
AU - Mak, Tak W.
AU - Nomoto, Kikuo
PY - 1987/1/1
Y1 - 1987/1/1
N2 - The expression and sequences of T cell antigen receptor (TcR) α and β‐chain genes were investigated in the spleens from congenitally athymic (nude) mice. A small number of Thy‐1+ cells (∼7.0%) was found in nylon wool‐enriched spleen cells from young (8 weeks old) nude mice but no L3T4 or Lyt‐2 surface antigens were detected. These nude mice expressed only a low level of 1.0‐kb β‐chain mRNA and little or no α‐gene transcripts. On the other hand the number of Thy‐1+ spleen cells increased slightly (to 24%) in old (20 weeks old) nude mice and a small number of L3T4+ (10%) and/or Lyt‐2+ (5%) cells were detectable. “Full length” 1.7‐kb α‐chain and 1.3‐kb β‐chain messages could be found in nylon wool‐enriched spleen cells from old nude mice. Sequence analysis of the cDNA revealed that no functional α and β‐chain genes can be detected in the spleen cells of young athymic mice while some of the old mice with nu/nu genotype are composed of completely rearranged V‐(D)‐J‐C‐gene segments which encode potentially functional proteins. Interestingly, two of three independent cDNA clones encoding the α chain used the same Vα and Jα‐gene segments. These results suggest that extrathymic TcR α and β‐chain gene rearrangements do occur, though slowly, to some extent, in nude mice and may be responsible for the limited antigen and/or H‐2‐related T cell functions in these old athymic mice. The data further suggests that the TcR repertoire in athymic mice may also be limited.
AB - The expression and sequences of T cell antigen receptor (TcR) α and β‐chain genes were investigated in the spleens from congenitally athymic (nude) mice. A small number of Thy‐1+ cells (∼7.0%) was found in nylon wool‐enriched spleen cells from young (8 weeks old) nude mice but no L3T4 or Lyt‐2 surface antigens were detected. These nude mice expressed only a low level of 1.0‐kb β‐chain mRNA and little or no α‐gene transcripts. On the other hand the number of Thy‐1+ spleen cells increased slightly (to 24%) in old (20 weeks old) nude mice and a small number of L3T4+ (10%) and/or Lyt‐2+ (5%) cells were detectable. “Full length” 1.7‐kb α‐chain and 1.3‐kb β‐chain messages could be found in nylon wool‐enriched spleen cells from old nude mice. Sequence analysis of the cDNA revealed that no functional α and β‐chain genes can be detected in the spleen cells of young athymic mice while some of the old mice with nu/nu genotype are composed of completely rearranged V‐(D)‐J‐C‐gene segments which encode potentially functional proteins. Interestingly, two of three independent cDNA clones encoding the α chain used the same Vα and Jα‐gene segments. These results suggest that extrathymic TcR α and β‐chain gene rearrangements do occur, though slowly, to some extent, in nude mice and may be responsible for the limited antigen and/or H‐2‐related T cell functions in these old athymic mice. The data further suggests that the TcR repertoire in athymic mice may also be limited.
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U2 - 10.1002/eji.1830170407
DO - 10.1002/eji.1830170407
M3 - Article
C2 - 2883009
AN - SCOPUS:0023224942
VL - 17
SP - 477
EP - 482
JO - European Journal of Immunology
JF - European Journal of Immunology
SN - 0014-2980
IS - 4
ER -