Fixing an irrelevant TCR[alpha] chain reveals the importance of TCR[beta] diversity for optimal TCR[alpha][beta] pairing and function of virus-specific CD8+ T cells

TCR repertoire diversity can influence the efficacy of CD8+ T-cell populations, with greater breadth eliciting better protection. We analyzed TCR[beta] diversity and functional capacity for influenza-specific CD8+ T cells expressing a single TCR[alpha] chain. Mice (A7) transgenic for the H2KbOVA257-264-specific V[alpha]2.7 TCR were challenged with influenza to determine how fixing this "irrelevant" TCR[alpha] affects the "public" and restricted DbNPCD8+ versus the "private" and diverse DbPACD8+ responses. Though both DbNPCD8+ and DbPACD8+ sets are generated in virus-primed A7 mice, the constrained DbNPCD8+ population lacked the characteristic, public TCRV[beta]8.3, and consequently was reduced in magnitude and pMHC-I avidity. For the more diverse DbPACD8+ T cells, this particular forcing led to a narrowing and higher TCR[beta] conservation of the dominant V[beta]7, though the responses were of comparable magnitude to C57BL/6J controls. Interestingly, although both the TCR[beta] diversity and the cytokine profiles were reduced for the DbNPCD8+ and DbPACD8+ sets in spleen, the latter measure of polyfunctionality was comparable for T cells recovered from the infected lungs of A7 and control mice. Even "sub-optimal" TCR[alpha][beta] pairs can operate effectively when exposed in a milieu of high virus load. Thus, TCR[beta] diversity is important for optimal TCR[alpha][beta] pairing and function when TCR[alpha] is limiting.