In vivo clonal dominance and limited T-cell receptor usage in human CD4+ T-cell recognition of house dust mite allergens

L. R. Wedderburn, R. E. O'Hehir, C. R.A. Hewitt, J. R. Lamb, M. J. Owen

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Abstract

Sensitivity to house dust mite antigens in atopic individuals is a major cause of allergic diseases, ranging from asthma to rhinitis and dermatitis. We have studied the T-cell receptor (TCR) usage of house-dust-mite-specific CD4+ T-cell clones isolated from an atopic individual, by using the anchored polymerase chain reaction, and have analyzed the peripheral TCR repertoire of the same individual. Several T-cell clones had identical TCRs at the sequence level, despite the fact that they had been independently isolated, in some cases, in different years. These data suggest the presence in vivo of long- lived T-cell clones. We have also shown that junctional sequences identical to these clones are present in peripheral blood T cells taken 6 years after the isolation of the T-cell clones. The analysis of TCR genes used by the panel of clones reveals oligoclonality, with the variable (V) region gene segments Vα8 and Vβ3 being dominant, although there is minimal conservation of junctional sequences. The results have implications for understanding the TCR recognition of an environmental aeroallergen and the life span of T-cell clones in vivo during a chronic immune response.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)8214-8218
Number of pages5
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume90
Issue number17
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 1993
Externally publishedYes

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