Studies on the human T cell receptor α/β variable region genes. I. Identification of 7 additional Vαsubfamilies and 14 Jαgene segments

摘要

AbstractThe anchored‐polymerase chain reaction has been used to study further the diversity of the human T cell receptor α chain. The analysis of 308 cDNA transcripts from human peripheral lymphocytes hybridizing with a Cαprobe led to the identification of a series of additional Vαand Jαgene segments. The sequences of seven Vαgene segments which individually define a novel Vαsubfamily (termed Vαw23 to Vαw29) are reported. The sequences of some previously described Vα1, Vα2, Vα5, Vα7 and Vα22 gene segments are also extended. In addition, we report 14 novel Jαgene segment sequences. Taken together, these data indicate that the contribution of the α chain combinatorial diversity to the human T cell receptor α/β variability has not yet been