title: BE-2 antigen: appearance in activation and long-term growth of T cells.
abstract: The BE-2 lymphocyte surface protein is frequently expressed by the malignant cells of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) but is not detectable on the surface of normal resting peripheral blood lymphocytes. The expression of BE-2 by normal T cells can be induced by lectin stimulation. Membrane expression of BE-2 surpasses that of the membrane receptor for IL-2, another T-cell activation marker, at day 5. The peak expression of BE-2 appears at day 6-8. The appearance of BE-2 could also be demonstrated after anti-CD3 and allogeneic stimulation. Long-term T-cell clones derived from normal donors and maintained in culture with periodic stimulation were also found to express BE-2 continuously. Thus, BE-2 is a late activation marker not expressed on normal peripheral blood lymphocytes and pathologically expressed on circulating malignant cells in the disease CTCL.
authors.affiliation: Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, New Haven, Connecticut.
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Heald
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamamura
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McNamara
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Edelson
mesh_terms: D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000276:immunology*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D000954:Antigens, Surface; C063419:CTAGE1 protein, human; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins