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Posttranslational regulation of TCR Valpha allelic exclusion during T cell differentiation.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Alam, SM; Gascoigne, NR
Published in: J Immunol
April 15, 1998

We have previously shown that phenotypic allelic exclusion of TCR alpha-chain is functional only in mature thymocytes. A significant proportion of immature thymocytes (TCRlow) express more than one cell surface alpha-chain, but mature thymocytes (TCRhigh) show phenotypic allelic exclusion and express only a single alpha-chain. We have analyzed thymocytes for both surface and intracellular alpha-chain expression and find that the majority of mature thymocytes express a second alpha-chain intracellularly. This result is predicted by a model in which the developmentally regulated allelic exclusion of the TCR alpha-chain is caused by competition between alpha-chains for the beta-chain rather than by models in which one alpha-chain is down-regulated or in which selection favors cells with only a single alpha-chain species. Changes in the relative amounts of alpha- and beta-chains available for pairing may therefore allow competition between the two alpha-chains for the beta-chain. Peripheral T cells also frequently express second alpha-chains in the cytoplasm (18-27%), despite a rather low frequency of dual alpha-chain expression on the cell surface (2-4%). The frequency of nonsurface expressed alpha-chains is reduced somewhat compared with thymocytes, indicating that an additional level of control of allelic exclusion operates during the maturation of peripheral T cells.

Duke Scholars

Published In

J Immunol

ISSN

0022-1767

Publication Date

April 15, 1998

Volume

160

Issue

8

Start / End Page

3883 / 3890

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Thymus Gland
  • T-Lymphocytes
  • Phenotype
  • Models, Biological
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice
  • Immunology
  • Gene Rearrangement, beta-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor
  • Gene Rearrangement, alpha-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor
 

Citation

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ICMJE
MLA
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Alam, S. M., & Gascoigne, N. R. (1998). Posttranslational regulation of TCR Valpha allelic exclusion during T cell differentiation. J Immunol, 160(8), 3883–3890.
Alam, S. M., and N. R. Gascoigne. “Posttranslational regulation of TCR Valpha allelic exclusion during T cell differentiation.J Immunol 160, no. 8 (April 15, 1998): 3883–90.
Alam SM, Gascoigne NR. Posttranslational regulation of TCR Valpha allelic exclusion during T cell differentiation. J Immunol. 1998 Apr 15;160(8):3883–90.
Alam, S. M., and N. R. Gascoigne. “Posttranslational regulation of TCR Valpha allelic exclusion during T cell differentiation.J Immunol, vol. 160, no. 8, Apr. 1998, pp. 3883–90.
Alam SM, Gascoigne NR. Posttranslational regulation of TCR Valpha allelic exclusion during T cell differentiation. J Immunol. 1998 Apr 15;160(8):3883–3890.

Published In

J Immunol

ISSN

0022-1767

Publication Date

April 15, 1998

Volume

160

Issue

8

Start / End Page

3883 / 3890

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Thymus Gland
  • T-Lymphocytes
  • Phenotype
  • Models, Biological
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice
  • Immunology
  • Gene Rearrangement, beta-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor
  • Gene Rearrangement, alpha-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor