Predominant expression of T cell receptor V alpha 7 in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes of uveal melanoma.
Expression of T cell receptor (TCR) V alpha genes in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) within intraocular melanoma was studied. Primers for 18 different human TCR V alpha families were used to analyze TCR V alpha-C alpha gene rearrangements in TIL in these melanomas obtained at surgery. A limited number of TCR V alpha genes were expressed and rearranged in these tumors, and TILs expressing V alpha 7 were found in seven of eight of these uveal melanomas. TCR gene usage is also restricted in experimental autoimmune disease, in T cells within organs like skin and other epithelial tissues, and in the brain of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The restricted usage of TCR genes in TIL may indicate that a specific antigen in these melanomas is targeted.
Nitta
T
T
Department of Genetics, Stanford University Medical Center, CA 94305.
Oksenberg
J R
JR
Rao
N A
NA
Steinman
L
L
D001483:Base Sequence; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics*; D014604:Uveal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell