Limited junctional diversity of Vδ5-Jδ1 rearrangement in multiple sclerosis patients

T-cell receptor (TCR) δ gene repertoire, as assessed by Vδ-Jδ rearrangements, has been analyzed in nine multiple sclerosis (MS) cases and in 30 healthy individuals by seminested PCR technique. Among the Vδ-Jδ junctional diversities studied, the most striking result has been observed in Vδ5-Jδ1 rearrangement. The detection of repeated Vδ5-Jδ1 nucleotide sequences in all analyzed clones from seven out of nine patients studied proved the monoclonal nature of γ δ T-cells with Vδ5-Jδ1 rearrangement. The clonal nature of this rearrangement proved by PAGE and sequencing analysis may suggest an antigen-driven expansion of γδT cells and argues for a significant role of γδ T-cells with Vδ5-Jδ1 rearrangement in MS pathogenesis. However, it cannot be excluded that clonal expansion of these lymphocytes may represent secondary change to central nervous system damage.