A versatile method to produce antibodies to human T cell receptor V beta segments: frequency determination of human V beta 2+ T cells that react with toxic-shock syndrome toxin-1.

Human V beta (hV beta) regions have been expressed in the context of mouse T cell receptor (TcR)-CD3 complexes, and subsequently used to raise hV beta-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAb). The method of expression of hV beta outlined in this report contrasts in its versatility with the one reported by Choi et al. (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 1991. 88: 8357). For instance, we have applied it successfully to the construction of mouse T cell transfectants expressing hV beta 1, hV beta 2, hV beta 3, hV beta 8, hV beta 9, hV beta 13.5, hV beta 19, hV beta 21, and hV beta 22 gene segments. mAb against the hV beta 2 and hV beta 19 regions have been raised by using these transfectants as immunogens in mice. Here, we illustrate the application of the anti-hV beta 2 mAb to the measurement of human T cells that react with the staphylococcal toxic-shock syndrome toxin-1.