Analysis of T cell clonality by using T-cell receptor varible β gene repertoire in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia / 中国病理生理杂志

ABSTRACT

AIM: To analyze T cell clonality in patients with T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). METHODS: The complementarity determining region 3 (CDR3) size of 24 T cell antigen receptor variable β (TCR Vβ) region gene was analyzed in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) samples from 6 T-ALL cases and 10 normal individuals by using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The PCR products were further studied by genescan and sequencing analysis. RESULTS: Some TCR Vβ subfamily T cells display mono- or oligoclonal expansions in 3 cases of T-ALL, predominantly in Vβ2, Vβ3, Vβ6, Vβ9, Vβ21 or Vβ24, respectively. Polyclonal expansions of T cells were found in the other three cases, which could also be found in normal samples. CONCLUSION: A part of T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells may arise from a clonal expansion of TCR Vβ subfamily T cell. This method may be useful for the detection of minimal residual disease in clinical study of the disease.