THE HUMAN T-CELL ANTIGEN RECEPTOR REPERTOIRE - SKEWED USE OF V-BETA GENE FAMILIES BY CD8(-CELLS() T)

The TCR repertoire of human CD8(+) peripheral blood lymphocytes has be en determined using MoAbs to the V beta 2, 3, 5.1, 5.2/5.3, 6.7, 8, 12 and 19(17) V beta gene families. The CD8 T cell repertoire for V beta 2 and V beta 3 is shown to be skewed, with an excess of individuals h aving higher values than are consistent with a normal distribution. A significant majority of these individuals are over the age of 40. High values of V beta CD8(+) cells were found for each V beta family studi ed except for 6.7a. Individual high values are stable for at least 12 months. In addition, the total percentage of CD4 and CD8 cells reactin g with this panel of reagents was determined. There is a significant e xcess of V beta(+) CD4(+) cells (33%) over CD8(+) V beta(+) cells (21. 9%). Thus the human CD8 V beta repertoire differs from the human CD4 r epertoire in a number of important ways.