Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Preferential expression of the T-cell receptor Vβ3 gene by Mlsc reactive T cells

Abstract

The precursor frequency of T cells specific for any given foreign antigen is, in general, extremely low. Prominent exceptions to this rule are the T cells that are specific for foreign major histocompatibility complex (MHC) products or for products of the minor lymphocyte stimulatory (Mls) genes in the mouse which are present at high frequencies1,2. Here, we report a striking overlap or cross-reactivity between the T cells specific for the protein antigen pigeon cytochrome c in association with EkαEkβ and the set of T cells specific for Mlsc products. In addition, we demonstrate that the basis for this overlap is the predominant expression of one T-cell receptor (TCR) Vβ gene, Vβ3, by T cells that recognize Mlsc products. These results indicate the importance of specific TCR αβ dimers in the recognition of Mlsc products and that positive or negative selection of T cells specific for Mls self-determinants may selectively alter the repertoire of T cells available for MHC-restricted recognition of foreign antigens.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Wilson, D. B., Blyth, J. L. & Nowell, P. C. J. exp. Med. 128, 1157–1181 (1968).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Janeway, C. A. Jr, Lerner, E. A., Jason, J. M. & Jones, B. Immunogenetics 5, 357–371 (1977).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Fink, P. J., Matis, L. A., McElligott, D. L., Bookman, M. & Hedrick, S. M. Nature 321, 219–226 (1986).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Sorger, S. B., Hedrick, S. M., Fink, P. J., Bookman, M. A. & Matis, L. A. J. exp. Med. 165, 279–301 (1987).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Matis, L. A., Sorger, S. B., McElligott, D. L., Fink, P. J. & Hedrick, S. M. Cell 51, 59–69 (1987).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Festenstein, H. Transplant Rev. 15, 62–88 (1987).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Abe, R., Ryan, J. J. & Hodes, R. J. J. exp. Med. 166, 1113–1129 (1987).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Abe, R., Ryan, J. J., Finkelman, F. D. & Hodes, R. J. J. Immun. 138, 373–379 (1987).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Kappler, J. W., Staerz, U., White, J. & Marrack, P. C. Nature 332, 35–40 (1988).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. MacDonald, J. R. et al. Nature 332, 40–45 (1988).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Abe, R., Ryan, J. J. & Hodes, R. J. J. exp. Med. 165, 1150–1155 (1987).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Kappler, J. W. et al. Cell 49, 263–271 (1987).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Saito, T. & Germain, R. N. Immunol. Rev. 101, 81–114 (1988).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Fry, A. M. & Matis, L. A. Nature 335, 830–832 (1988).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Pullen, A. M., Marrack, P. & Kappler, J. W. Nature 335, 796–801 (1988).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Ryan, J. J., Mond, J. J., Finkelman, F. D. & Scher, I. J. Immun. 130, 2534–2541 (1987).

    Google Scholar 

  17. Chirgwin, J. M., Przybyla, A. E., MacDonald, R. J. & Rutter, W. J. Biochemistry 18, 5294–5303 (1979).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Abe, R., Vacchio, M., Fox, B. et al. Preferential expression of the T-cell receptor Vβ3 gene by Mlsc reactive T cells. Nature 335, 827–830 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1038/335827a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/335827a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing