Comparison of Reptilian Genomes Reveals Deletions Associated with the Natural Loss of γδ T Cells in Squamates

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dc.contributor.authorMorrissey, K.A.
dc.contributor.authorSampson, J.M.
dc.contributor.authorRivera, M.
dc.contributor.authorBu, L.
dc.contributor.authorHansen, V.L.
dc.contributor.authorGemmell, N.J.
dc.contributor.authorGardner, M.G.
dc.contributor.authorBertozzi, T.
dc.contributor.authorMiller, R.D.
dc.date.issued2022
dc.description.abstractT lymphocytes or T cells are key components of the vertebrate response to pathogens and cancer. There are two T cell classes based on their TCRs, ab T cells and gd T cells, and each plays a critical role in immune responses. The squamate reptiles may be unique among the vertebrate lineages by lacking an entire class of T cells, the gd T cells. In this study, we investigated the basis of the loss of the gd T cells in squamates. The genome and transcriptome of a sleepy lizard, the skink Tiliqua rugosa, were compared with those of tuatara, Sphenodon punctatus, the last living member of the Rhynchocephalian reptiles. We demonstrate that the lack of TCRg and TCRd transcripts in the skink are due to large deletions in the T. rugosa genome. We also show that tuataras are on a growing list of species, including sharks, frogs, birds, alligators, and platypus, that can use an atypical TCRd that appears to be a chimera of a TCR chain with an Ab-like Ag-binding domain. Tuatara represents the nearest living relative to squamates that retain gd T cells. The loss of gdTCR in the skink is due to genomic deletions that appear to be conserved in other squamates. The genes encoding the abTCR chains in the skink do not appear to have increased in complexity to compensate for the loss of gd T cells.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityKimberly A. Morrissey, Jordan M. Sampson, Megan Rivera, Lijing Bu, Victoria L. Hansen, Neil J. Gemmell, Michael G. Gardner, Terry Bertozzi and Robert D. Miller.
dc.identifier.citationJournal of Immunology, 2022; 208(8):1960-1967
dc.identifier.doi10.4049/jimmunol.2101158
dc.identifier.issn0022-1767
dc.identifier.issn1550-6606
dc.identifier.orcidBertozzi, T. [0000-0001-6665-3395]
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/2440/135185
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherThe American Association of Immunologists
dc.relation.granthttp://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP200102880
dc.rightsCopyright © 2022 by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc.
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.4049/jimmunol.2101158
dc.subjectT-Lymphocytes
dc.subjectAnimals
dc.subjectLizards
dc.subjectReceptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta
dc.subjectGenome
dc.subject.meshT-Lymphocytes
dc.subject.meshAnimals
dc.subject.meshLizards
dc.subject.meshReceptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta
dc.subject.meshGenome
dc.titleComparison of Reptilian Genomes Reveals Deletions Associated with the Natural Loss of γδ T Cells in Squamates
dc.title.alternativeComparison of Reptilian Genomes Reveals Deletions Associated with the Natural Loss of γdelta T Cells in Squamates
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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