T cell receptor β chain gene rearrangements and Vβ gene usage in horse cytochrome c‐specific T cell hybridomas

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Abstract
Comparison of T cell receptor α and β-chain genes in murine major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and class II-restricted T cell clones and hybridomas recognizing different antigens indicates that no simple correlation exists between the observed antigen/MHC specificity and the expression of certain α and β-chain heterodimers. We have attempted to establish a possible correlation by analyzing T cell receptor β chain gene rearrangements and Vβ gene usage in five T cell hybridomas with identical antigen/MHC specificity and another hybridoma recognizing a different antigenic determinant in association with the same restriction molecule. We report here that in each of the five clones a uniquely rearranged β chain gene is expressed in combination with at least two different Vβ gene segments. The presence of the differently rearranged T cell receptor β chain genes correlated with the finding of distinct fine specificity pattern of antigen recognition in each of the hybridomas. Interestingly, two hybridomas specific for different epitopes showed identical β chain D-J rearrangements indicating that the differences might be encoded by the α chain gene or/and the Vβ gene element.