Characterization of the human T cell receptor α‐chain repertoire and demonstration of a genetic influence on Vα usage

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Abstract
Despite considerable knowledge of the determinants and profile of the Tcell receptor (TCR) β‐chain repertoire, very little is known about the repertoire of the Vα and Jα segments of the TCR in man or mouse. We have used the anchored polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to analyze the human TCR α‐chain repertoire at the mRNA level in peripheral blood lymphocytes. We find marked differences in the usage of individual Vα segments. The Vα repertoire is determined both by differences in the use of individual Vα gene segments at the time of gene rearrangement and by genetic influences on the selection of the expressed Vα repertoire, presumably during thymic maturation. Analysis of the Jα repertoire shows non‐random usage of individual Jα segments but no obvious relationship to chromosomal position. We also report three new Vα segments, three new Jα segments and possible allelic variation in Vα gene segments. Two unusual TCRα transcripts are described which add new information on the nature of TCRα transcript assembly.