title: Antibodies to T cell antigen receptor beta chain families detect monoclonal T cell proliferation.
abstract: The T cell antigen receptor is constructed from independent gene segments much like those used to assemble immunoglobulin genes. One of the receptor's two protein subunits, the beta chain, uses a limited number of variable region segments. The product of these V region segments can be identified by monoclonal antibodies and can be used to define populations of normal T cells which use the same V beta (V beta) gene segment. These antibodies have been used to define monoclonality or its absence in T cell populations. Twenty-four cases have been studied (twenty with solid T cell lymphomas and four with T cell leukaemias). Two monoclonal antibodies to V beta (anti-HPB-A11 and anti-Jurkat) were tested, and three cases of T cell lymphoma were positive, two to anti-Jurkat and one to anti-HPB. The malignant nature of T cell proliferations can be directly diagnosed in tissue sections and intact cell suspensions. This approach should also make possible the monitoring of changes in malignant populations in response to therapy.
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D006801:Humans; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000276:immunology*; D007938:Leukemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology*; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell