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Fig. 3 | Molecular Medicine

Fig. 3

From: The Repertoire of CD4+ CD28 T Cells in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Fig. 3

Clonal T cell expansions within the CD4 + CD28 compartment

To examine the nature of the skewed BV gene segment usage, the TCR repertoire of CD4+ CD28+ and CD4 CD28 T cells were analyzed by BV-BC-specific PCR of TCR sequences and subsequent size fractionation. Results for four BV-BC combinations from three individuals are shown. The CD4+ CD28+ population always showed a Gaussian distribution of band intensities, suggesting polyclonality. In contrast, dominant bands emerged in the CD4+ CD28 T cells. Clonality was confirmed by sequencing (Table 2). Of the 21 expanded BV elements (Table 1), 17 harbored one or more T cell clones.

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