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Vol 44(2010) N 2 p. 277-286; E.S. Zvezdova1, Y.Y. Silaeva1, M.S. Vagida1, E.V. Maryukhnich1, A.V. Deikin2, T.G. Ermolkevich2, S.G. Kadulin1, E.R. Sadchikova2, I.L. Goldman2, D.B. Kazansky1* Construction of Transgenic Animals Expressing the α and β Chains of the Autoreactive T-Cell Receptor 1Blokhin Cancer Research Center, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Moscow, 115478, Russia2Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119334, Russia *kazansky1@ya.ru Received - 2009-04-21; Accepted - 2009-08-06 Transgenic animal analysis has become a key approach used to study the gene functions and to model various human diseases, including autoimmune disorders. Such disorders are caused by the activation of T-cell clones whose T-cell receptors (TCRs) have a high affinity for syngenic MHC molecules. The genes coding for the α and β chains of the autoreactive TCR were cloned from hybridoma 7, which was specific for syngeneic Ab MHC class II molecules. Amplified DNA fragments containing rearranged genomic DNA of the α and β chains of hybridoma 7 were cloned into special cassette vectors that contained the natural promoter and enhancer elements ensuring direct expression of the α - and β -chain genes in Tcells of transgenic animals. The animals obtained with the vectors expressed the α or β chain on the majority of peripheral T cells. The animals are suitable for studying the features of the intrathymic selection and maturation of T cells and provide an experimental model for developing new approaches to therapy of autoimmune diseases. T lymphocyte, cloning, transgene, MHC, TCR |