A comparative study on T cell receptor V beta gene usages: spleen cells from the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse and its non-diabetic sister strain, the ILI mouse, and infiltrating T cells into pancreata of NOD mice.

We analyzed the usage of T cell receptor (TCR) V beta genes of spleen cells of NOD mice in comparison with those of its non-diabetic sister strain ILI mice which show no insulitis and (ILI x NOD)F1 mice. The quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method revealed that PCR V beta repertoires of these mice are indistinguishable. This is consistent with our previous observation that ILI mice share the same H-2 class II genes with NOD mice. PCR method also revealed that the V beta transcript of infiltrating T cells into pancreas of NOD mice was not restricted but was rather diverse. The role of TCR repertoire in the development of insulitis was discussed.