title: Rearrangement of the gene for the beta chain of the T-cell receptor in T-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia and related disorders.
abstract: Although monoclonal B-cell populations can be identified both by surface-marker analysis and by immunoglobulin-gene rearrangements, this has not been possible with T cells. We have employed cDNA probes that are specific for the entire beta chain of the T-cell receptor, and for its constant and variable regions, to investigate gene rearrangements in T-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia and related disorders. In three malignant proliferations of helper (T4-positive) T cells, rearrangements of the beta-chain constant-region gene were readily demonstrated. A patient from the Caribbean who had adult T-cell lymphoma and antibody to human T-cell lymphotrophic virus Type I (HTLV-I), a patient with virus-negative chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and a patient with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (Sézary variant) made up the T4-positive group. Three additional patients with chronic T8 (cytotoxic-suppressor) lymphocytosis and neutropenia were studied; in two; rearrangements were found. In all five patients with constant-region rearrangements, deletions of variable-region restriction fragments were observed as well. The presence of rearrangements of a T-cell receptor gene provides presumptive evidence for the clonal nature of T-cell proliferation and for its neoplastic character.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Aisenberg
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Krontiris
authors.forename: T W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Mak
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Wilkes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D002872:Chromosome Deletion; D002999:Clone Cells; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D015480:Deltaretrovirus Antibodies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007127:Immunoglobulin Constant Regions / Q000235:genetics; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000235:genetics*; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics*; D012751:Sezary Syndrome / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D015480:Deltaretrovirus Antibodies; D007127:Immunoglobulin Constant Regions; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell