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Bovine T cell receptor gamma variable and constant genes: combinatorial usage by circulating gammadelta T cells
Carolyn Herzig1, Seth Blumerman, Marie-Paule Lefranc
1Paige Laboratory, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences and Program in Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA. cbaldwin@vasci.umass.edu
Immunogenetics
|March 17, 2006
Summary
Researchers identified 11 bovine T cell receptor gamma variable (TRGV) genes and six TRG constant (TRGC) genes, advancing our understanding of cattle immune systems. These findings highlight cattle as valuable models for gammadelta T cell research.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Genomics
- Comparative Biology
Background:
- T cell receptor gamma (TRG) genes are crucial components of the adaptive immune system, particularly in gammadelta T cells.
- Understanding the diversity and organization of TRG genes in different species, like cattle, provides insights into immune system evolution and function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the expression and sequence of new bovine T cell receptor gamma (TRG) genes.
- To annotate the genomic placement of these genes and identify homologous genes in sheep.
- To reassign and designate specific TRGV subgroups and report the complete sequence of bovine TRGC5.
Main Methods:
- Annotation of publicly available genomic sequences.
- Assignment of homologous TRG genes in cattle and sheep using established criteria.
- Sequence analysis of bovine TRGC5.
- Analysis of circulating gammadelta T cells and TRGV-TRGC gene rearrangement.
Main Results:
- Identification of 11 bovine TRGV genes (in eight subgroups) and six TRGC genes.
- Description of new bovine genes including TRGC6, TRGV2, and TRGV4, with identified sheep homologues.
- Reassignment of bovine Vgamma7 and BTGV1 clones to new TRGV subgroups (TRGV7 and TRGV8).
- Designation of TRGV5, TRGV6, and TRGV8 subgroups into sub-types (e.g., TRGV5-1, TRGV5-2).
- Report of the complete sequence for bovine TRGC5, showing close relation to ovine TRGC5.
- Demonstration that TRGV-TRGC gene rearrangement in cattle is influenced by genomic proximity within V-J-C cassettes.
- Confirmation that all identified TRG genes are expressed by bovine peripheral blood gammadelta T cells.
Conclusions:
- The study significantly expands the repertoire of known bovine TRG genes, providing a comprehensive catalog.
- Cattle serve as a valuable model for gammadelta T cell biology, particularly due to their immune responses to specific antigens.
- The genomic organization and rearrangement patterns of bovine TRG genes offer insights into immune system regulation and evolution, with some similarities to human gene clusters.
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