TY - JOUR
T1 - Specific transcription of the unrearranged TCR Vβ8.2 gene in lymphoid tissues occurs independently of V(D)J rearrangement
AU - Jolly, Christopher J.
AU - O'Neill, Helen C.
PY - 1997
Y1 - 1997
N2 - A truncated T cell receptor (TCR) Vβ8.2 polypeptide expressed on the surface of a precursor lymphoid cell line and on a subset of mesenteric lymph node cells has previously been shown to be encoded by transcripts from unrearranged Vβ8 genes. Germline Vβ8 transcription has now been demonstrated in multiple lymphoid and non-lymphoid tissues in mice of varying ages and in cultured cell lines by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Significant levels of Vβ8 germline transcription were found in thymus, spleen, liver and bone marrow and in all lymphoid cell lines studied. Germline Vβ8 transcription in the liver dropped as mice aged, and increased in the bone marrow. Germline Vβ8 transcription was also detectable in thymus, spleen, liver and bone marrow of RAG-1(-/-) mice. This indicated that it is not dependent upon the presence of mature lymphoid cells, nor necessarily related to V(D)J rearrangement events. Semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and hybridization with oligonucleotides specific for Vβ8.1, 8.2 and 8.3 showed that the Vβ8.2 gene produced at least 90% of all the germline Vβ8 transcripts in all of the tissues examined. The significance of these results in lymphoid cell development and for models of the regulation of V(D)J rearrangement are discussed.
AB - A truncated T cell receptor (TCR) Vβ8.2 polypeptide expressed on the surface of a precursor lymphoid cell line and on a subset of mesenteric lymph node cells has previously been shown to be encoded by transcripts from unrearranged Vβ8 genes. Germline Vβ8 transcription has now been demonstrated in multiple lymphoid and non-lymphoid tissues in mice of varying ages and in cultured cell lines by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Significant levels of Vβ8 germline transcription were found in thymus, spleen, liver and bone marrow and in all lymphoid cell lines studied. Germline Vβ8 transcription in the liver dropped as mice aged, and increased in the bone marrow. Germline Vβ8 transcription was also detectable in thymus, spleen, liver and bone marrow of RAG-1(-/-) mice. This indicated that it is not dependent upon the presence of mature lymphoid cells, nor necessarily related to V(D)J rearrangement events. Semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and hybridization with oligonucleotides specific for Vβ8.1, 8.2 and 8.3 showed that the Vβ8.2 gene produced at least 90% of all the germline Vβ8 transcripts in all of the tissues examined. The significance of these results in lymphoid cell development and for models of the regulation of V(D)J rearrangement are discussed.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0031040278&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 9046429
AN - SCOPUS:0031040278
SN - 0818-9641
VL - 75
SP - 13
EP - 20
JO - Immunology and Cell Biology
JF - Immunology and Cell Biology
IS - 1
ER -