A persistent T cell expansion in the peripheral blood of a normal adult male: a new clinical entity?
A dramatic and persistent T cell expansion in a healthy adult male was initially identified, using anti-T cell receptor for antigen (TCR)-specific MoAbs. The expanded T cells were found to be expressing TCR containing V alpha 12.1 and V beta 5.2, and they composed approximately one third of all the CD8+ T cells. The cells were shown to be not only non-activated (HLA-DR-, IL-2R-) but also of 'virgin' cell type (CD45RA+/CD45RO-) and they persisted over the observation period of more than one and a half years. Various T and B cell markers, and all other laboratory and physical parameters analysed, were normal. The expanded CD8+ T cells were further characterized by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification, using V beta- and C beta-specific primers, followed by hybridization with J beta-specific probes. Close to 90% of the V alpha 12.1+ V beta 5.2+ T cells were found to utilize the J beta 2.5 gene segment, thus strongly suggesting the expanded T cells to be monoclonal. The condition may constitute a T cell counterpart to 'monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance' (MGUS), and by analogy we suggest it should be designated 'monoclonal T cell expansion of undetermined significance' (MTUS).
Grunewald
J
J
Department of Immunology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
Jeddi-Tehrani
M
M
Dersimonian
H
H
Andersson
R
R
Wigzell
H
H
D000328:Adult; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000235:genetics; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*
D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta