The T cell receptor repertoire of intestinal intraepithelial gamma delta T lymphocytes is influenced by genes linked to the major histocompatibility complex and to the T cell receptor loci

Most of the gamma delta T cells in the intestinal epithelium of normal mice use the V gamma 1 or the V gamma 7 gene segments, However, the relative proportions of gamma delta intraepithelial lymphocytes expressing either the V gamma 1 or the V gamma 7 chain vary among different strains of mice whereas they are quite constant between different individuals of the same strain, suggesting that genetic factors, rather than environmental factors, are responsible for the observed differences, To analyze the genetic factors influencing the representation of different gamma delta T cell subsets in the intestinal epithelium, we used available anti-T cell antigen receptor (TCR) V region-specific mAbs against V gamma 1, V gamma 4, V gamma 7, and V delta 4 to examine the TCR repertoire of intraepithelial gamma delta lymphocytes in a set of (C57BL/6 x DBA/2) recombinant inbred strains, Our results show that the representation of different V gamma and V delta gene products among gamma delta intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes is under a complex genetic control with a marked influence by genes closely linked to the TCR gamma, TCR delta, and major histocompatibility complex loci.