Studies on the human T cell receptor α/β variable region genes. II. Identification of four additional Vβ subfamilies

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Abstract
The human T cell receptor (TcR) β chain gene segment diversity has been studied using the anchored‐polymerase chain reaction. Three hundred and fifty Cβ‐specific transcripts derived from peripheral lymphocytes were analyzed. Transcripts including V‐Dβ1‐Jβ2‐C2 sequences were found with a high frequency (> 10%), suggesting that “illegitimate” joinings may constitute a cis‐complementing rearrangement mechanism capable of substantially increasing the TcR β chain combinatorial diversity. Twelve previously undescribed Vβ gene segments have been identified. Five of them delineate four novel Vβ subfamilies (Vβw21: two members, Vβw22, 23, 24: one member) which all have a murine homologue. The additional seven gene segments belong to the Vβ5, Vβ6, Vβ12 and Vβ13 subfamilies. In addition, the sequences of two known Vβ7 and Vβ9 gene segments have been extended. Together, the present data support the view that the contribution of the β chain combinatorial diversity to the TcR α/β variability has not yet been fully appreciated.