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MHC control of the naive TCR alpha-chain repertoire

M Merkenschlager1, C Benoist, D Mathis

  • 1Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Eukaryotes, INSERM U184, Strasbourg, France.

Journal of Immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)
|October 1, 1994
PubMed

The naive T cell repertoire is shaped by interactions between developing thymocytes and thymic stroma. Both positive and negative selection involve the clonotypic TCR and MHC molecules carrying self-peptides. Except for the MHC-dependent effects of superantigens on TCR V beta usage; there has been little evidence that the TCR structure of naive T cell varies with the selecting MHC products. To examine this point from another angle, in particular the TCR alpha-chain, we have analyzed alpha-chain usage in a system in which the vast majority of T cells express a transgene-encoded TCR beta-chain, compatible with efficient T cell development on a wide range of MHC haplotypes. Endogenous TCR alpha-chains are thus selected without interference from the forces known to act on TCR-beta, permitting us to observe MHC influences on alpha-chain selection. We have used V alpha-specific Abs to quantitate alpha-chain usage in MHC congenic, MHC recombinant, and MHC transgenic mice and provide evidence that the naive TCR alpha-chain repertoire is under MHC control. The data demonstrate a direct impact of known MHC class II products but also reflect more complex influences, apparently involving other gene products within the MHC. Sequence analysis of differentially selected TCR suggests that selection acts on the entire alpha-chain, including V alpha, J alpha, and the junctional region.

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