Control of TCR V Beta Rearrangement & Allelic Exclusion

说明(申请人提供)：免疫系统产生大量克隆性分布的抗原受体的能力取决于V(D)J重组过程，该过程在T和B淋巴细胞发育的早期阶段以高度调控的方式发生。发育调节的一个关键方面是等位基因排斥过程，它限制某些抗原受体基因只在一个等位基因上产生功能重排的基因。等位基因排斥部分是通过反馈抑制来实现的，在反馈抑制中，一个等位基因上的VDJ重组事件阻止了第二个等位基因上进一步的V到DJ重组。对此负责的机制还没有得到很好的理解。我们认为，与TCRβ等位基因排除相关的反馈抑制是多因素的，几种影响汇聚在一起，抑制了Vβ到DJβ的重组。反馈被认为是通过下调V beta可访问性来执行的。然而，我们发现，即使在可访问性障碍被克服后，反馈仍然完好无损。我们认为，这种“超越可及性”的调节可能反映了抑制远端重组信号序列(RSS)之间重组事件的基因座构象变化，可能限制重组酶可获得性的基因座亚核位置的变化，以及可能为RSS的使用提供发育特异性的RSS或其附近招募的因素的独特性质。在特定的目的I中，我们将利用三维荧光原位杂交的方法来鉴定TCRβ基因座、亚核位置和构象的发育变化。在特定的目标II和III中，我们将使用互补的基因靶向方法来直接测试反馈抑制的机制。首先，我们将创建和研究嵌入TCRβ和TCRα基因座的紧凑V(D)J重组盒，这些重组盒应该覆盖任何基因座构象和亚核位置的贡献。其次，我们将修改TCR Beta基因座中的本地元素，这些元素应该覆盖本地法规的潜在贡献。最后，在特定的目标IV中，我们将定义将TCRβ基因座分离为不同的染色质调节单位的机制。这些研究的成功完成将为V(D)J重组的控制和指导克隆性分布和非自身反应性抗原受体谱系形成的机制提供一般性的经验教训。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The ability of the immune system to generate immense repertoires of clonally distributed antigen receptors depends on the process of V(D)J recombination, which occurs in a highly regulated fashion during the early stages of T and B lymphocyte development. A critical aspect of developmental regulation is the process of allelic exclusion, which limits certain antigen receptor loci to produce a functionally rearranged gene on only one allele. Allelic exclusion is enforced in part through feedback inhibition in which a productive VDJ recombination event on one allele blocks further V to DJ recombination on the second allele. The mechanisms responsible are not well understood. We propose that feedback inhibition associated with TCR beta allelic exclusion is multifactorial, with several influences converging to suppress V beta to DJ beta recombination. Feedback was thought to be enforced by downregulation of V beta accessibility. However, we found that feedback is intact even after the accessibility barrier has been overcome. We propose that this "beyond accessibility" regulation may reflect changes in locus conformation that inhibit recombination events between distal recombination signal sequences (RSSs), changes in locus subnuclear position that may restrict the availability of the recombinase, and unique properties of RSSs or factors recruited to their vicinity that may provide developmental specificity to RSS usage. In Specific Aim I we will identify developmental changes in TCR beta locus subnuclear position and conformation using the approach of three dimensional fluorescence in situ hybridization. In Specific Aims II and III we will use complementary gene- targeting approaches to directly test mechanisms of feedback inhibition. First, we will create and study compact V(D)J recombination cassettes embedded in the TCR beta and TCR alpha loci that should override any contributions of locus conformation and subnuclear position. Second, we will modify local elements within the TCR beta locus that should override potential contributions from local regulation. Finally, in Specific Aim IV we will define the mechanisms that segregate the TCR beta locus into distinct chromatin regulatory units. Successful completion of these studies should provide general lessons regarding the control of V(D)J recombination and the mechanisms that guide the formation of a clonally distributed and non-autoreactive antigen receptor repertoire.