T-cell receptor beta-chain constant domain 1 (TRBC1)

T-cell receptor beta-chain constant domain 1 (TRBC1) is one of two mutually exclusive constant regions that comprise the beta chain of the alpha-beta T-cell receptor (TCR) complex (UniProt: P01850). In healthy individuals, the T-cell compartment is a polyclonal mixture of cells expressing either TRBC1 or TRBC2, but T-cell malignancies are monoclonal and restricted to a single constant region (Maciocia et al., Nature Medicine, 2017). This unique biology allows TRBC1 to serve as a precise therapeutic target for T-cell lymphomas and leukemias. By utilizing anti-TRBC1 agents, such as CAR-T cells (e.g., AUTO4), clinicians can selectively deplete the malignant T-cell population while sparing the TRBC2-positive T-cell subset. This strategy preserves a portion of the healthy T-cell repertoire, thereby maintaining a degree of cellular immunity and avoiding the profound immunodeficiency associated with pan-T-cell depletion (Autolus Therapeutics, 2024). This approach is currently being evaluated in clinical trials for peripheral T-cell lymphoma and other T-cell-derived cancers.

Other names

TRBC1T-cell receptor beta constant 1TCR beta constant 1T-cell receptor beta-1 chain C region

Selective elimination of TRBC1-expressing T-cells via CAR-T cell-mediated cytotoxicity or antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, preserving TRBC2-positive T-cells to maintain immune function.