Bimodal distribution of Vβ2+CD4+ T cells in human peripheral blood

The distribution of T cells using the Vβ2 gene was studied in a group of 99 humans. The distribution of Vβ2+CD4+ levels was bimodal. Twelve individuals had levels of Vβ2+CD4+ less than 2% and 86 others had values greater than 5%. Only one individual had a value between 2% and 5%. The Vβ2 low (mean 1.3 ± 0.49) and Vβ high (mean 8.2 ± 1.65) phenotypes were stable. The Vβ low phenotype is inherited and not limited to HLA or T cell receptor Vβ gene complexes. The CD8Vβ2 levels of CD4Vβ2 low individuals are also low. The residual Vβ2+ T cells in Vβ2 low individuals were not anergic to Vβ2‐specific stimulation. These data are compatible with the effects of an endogenous superantigen.