Structure and specificity of a class II MHC alloreactive gamma delta T cell receptor heterodimer.

Two distinct CD3-associated T cell receptors (TCR alpha beta and TCR gamma delta) are expressed in a mutually exclusive fashion on separate subsets of T lymphocytes. While the specificity of the TCR alpha beta repertoire for major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens is well established, the diversity of expressed gamma delta receptors and the ligands they recognize are less well understood. An alloreactive CD3+CD4-CD8- T cell line specific for murine class II MHC (Ia) antigens encoded in the I-E subregion of the H-2 gene complex was identified, and the primary structure of its gamma delta receptor heterodimer was characterized. In contrast to a TCR alpha beta-expressing alloreactive T cell line selected for similar specificity, the TCR gamma delta line displayed broad cross-reactivity for multiple distinct I-E-encoded allogeneic Ia molecules.