A quantitative, single-cell PCR analysis of an antigen-specific TCR repertoire selected during an in vivo CD8 response: direct evidence for a wide range of clone sizes with uniform tissue distribution.

摘要: The development of T cell effector and memory responses against foreign antigens (Ags) involves the activation, differentiation proliferation naive cells expressing distinct Ag-specific TCRs. Understanding complexity Ag-selected TCR repertoires in individual responders terms sequences selected their relative frequencies may provide indications about how a repertoire is established suggest ways to influence outcome an immune response. Most methods analysis are unsuitable for calculating vivo clones (expressing TCRs) during response, whereas sequence data obtained by single-cell PCR directly reflect if sufficiently large number sampled. Using CD8 response normal mice which identified surface phenotype rearranged TCRBV determined amplification genomic DNA from single cells, we have analyzed (>200 per animal) structurally-related TCRs calculate mice. We found that each responder selects unique various present wide range frequencies. However, overall distribution quite similar different animals. Moreover, individual's uniformly represented among circulating blood or localized spleen liver. Relatively few make up bulk account oligoclonality observed earlier studies. discuss models could this skewed repertoire.