Diversity in T-cell receptor gamma gene usage in intestinal epithelium.

Abstract

The intraepithelial cells of the murine small intestine include a significant number of CD3+ T cells that use T-cell receptor .gamma. genes rather than t-cell receptor .beta. genes. As with other sites of T-cell receptor .gamma. expression, combinatorial diversity is limited, but there is junctional diversity, and this, together with the specific variable region .gamma. gene segments used, distinguishes .gamma. gene expression in the gut epithelium from that in cells derived from the dermal epithelium. The restriction of productive .gamma. gene expression largely to one V-J-C (V, variable; J, joining; C, constant) gene combination may result from nonproductive joining of other V-J combinations and from productively rearranged genes rendered nonfunctional by incorrect splicing.