title: Rearrangements of genes for the antigen receptor on T cells as markers of lineage and clonality in human lymphoid neoplasms.
abstract: The T alpha and T beta chains of the heterodimeric T-lymphocyte antigen receptor are encoded by separated DNA segments that recombine during T-cell development. We have used rearrangements of the T beta gene as a widely applicable marker of clonality in the T-cell lineage. We show that the T beta genes are used in both the T8 and T4 subpopulations of normal T cells and that Sézary leukemia, adult T-cell leukemia, and the non-B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemias are clonal expansions of T cells. Furthermore, circulating T cells from a patient with the T8-cell-predominantly lymphocytosis associated with granulocytopenia are shown to be monoclonal. Finally, the sensitivity and specificity of this tumor-associated marker have been exploited to monitor the therapy of a patient with adult T-cell leukemia. These unique DNA rearrangements provide insights into the cellular origin, clonality, and natural history of T-cell neoplasia.
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Waldmann
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Bongiovanni
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Korsmeyer
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000483:Alleles; D000916:Antibody Diversity; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D002999:Clone Cells; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes; D006801:Humans; D007127:Immunoglobulin Constant Regions / Q000235:genetics; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000235:genetics*; D007938:Leukemia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics*; D012751:Sezary Syndrome / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes
chemical_list: D007127:Immunoglobulin Constant Regions; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D004247:DNA; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes