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Extrathymic development of V alpha 14-positive T cells
Y Makino1, N Yamagata, T Sasho
1Division of Molecular Immunology, School of Medicine, Chiba University, Japan.
The Journal of Experimental Medicine
|May 1, 1993
Summary
T cell receptor (TCR) gene rearrangements, crucial for T cell development, occur outside the thymus in sites like the bone marrow and liver. This suggests extrathymic development of specific T cell populations, generating diverse immune repertoires.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- T cell antigen receptor (TCR) gene rearrangement is essential for T cell development, typically occurring in the thymus.
- This process involves DNA deletion and the formation of circular DNA with recombination signal sequences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether TCR gene rearrangements occur in extrathymic sites.
- To determine if specific T cell populations, like V alpha 14+ T cells, develop outside the thymus.
Main Methods:
- Detection of V alpha 14+ and V alpha 1.1 T cell receptor gene rearrangements and associated signal sequences in various tissues (thymus, bone marrow, liver, intestine, spleen) from normal and athymic mice.
- Quantitative analysis of recombination signal sequences.
Main Results:
- Frequent V alpha 14+ TCR gene rearrangements were detected in extrathymic sites (bone marrow, liver, intestine), with higher signal sequence amounts than in the thymus.
- V alpha 14+ TCR rearrangements were absent in the spleen.
- TCR rearrangements of V alpha 1.1 T cells, known to develop in the thymus, were predominantly found in the thymus, Peyer's patch, and spleen, distinct from V alpha 14 patterns.
Conclusions:
- Evidence supports the extrathymic development of V alpha 14+ T cells.
- Distinct TCR rearrangement patterns in different lymphoid tissues indicate the generation of unique TCR repertoires in extrathymic sites.