The antigenic specificity of the majority of T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood is determined by the combination of a and p variable region chains present in the T cell receptor complex. Currently, the Vp chains are grouped into 25 families. Historically, determination of Vp usage has relied on detection of gene rearrangement on the nucleic acid level: however, with the increased availability of monoclonal antibodies to the product of these genomic rearrangements, immunophenotypic methods are rapidly becoming a reliable alternative method for studying the usage of Vp regions by T cells and T cell subsets. In the present study, multiparametric flow cytometry was used to determine the use of 10 Vp chains on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the peripheral blood of 28 normal donors. By obtaining absolute lymphocyte counts at the time blood was drawn, the absolute number of both CW+ and CD8+ cells using particular Vp regions could be determined. Additionally, the intradonor consistency of Vp usage was examined by obtaining blood from 5 of the volunteers at an interval of approximately 1 year. The results of this study suggest a fairly homogeneous pattern of use for these Vp regions. The most striking longitudinal differences were observed in one individual who underwent a tonsillectomy midway between the T cell receptor Vp determinations. 0 1996 Why-Liss, Inc.
Key terms CD4+ lymphocytes,