T-CELL RECEPTOR USAGE BY HLA-DQW8-SPECIFIC T-CELL CLONES

To investigate whether T cells recognizing the same HLA molecule may demonstrate homology in parts of their TCR, five different HLA - DQw8-specific T lymphocyte clones (TLC) were studied. The TCR-alpha and -beta-genes of four alloreactive, HLA - DQw8-specific and one antigen-specific TLC were sequenced. All TLC used different V(alpha) and V(beta) genes. However, four of the TLC shared a certain CDR1-beta motif and all five used either J(beta)2.3 or -2.5. In addition, two used the same J(alpha). The results indicate a possible preferential usage of certain TCR structures by T cells specific for DQw8.