title: T-cell receptor gene rearrangements as markers of lineage and clonality in T-cell neoplasms.
abstract: Ig gene rearrangements represent markers of lineage, clonality, and differentiation of B cells, allowing a molecular diagnosis and immunogenotypic classification of B-cell neoplasms. We sought to apply a similar approach to the study of T-cell populations by analyzing rearrangements of the T-cell receptor beta-chain (T beta) gene. Our analysis, by Southern blotting hybridization using T beta-specific probes of DNAs from polyclonal T cells and from 12 T-cell tumors, indicates that T beta gene rearrangement patterns can be used as markers of (i) lineage, allowing the identification of polyclonal T-cell populations, and (ii) clonality, allowing the detection of monoclonal T-cell tumors. In addition, our data indicate that T beta gene rearrangements represent early and general markers of T-cell differentiation since they are detectable in histologically different tumors at all stages of T-cell development. The ability to determine lineage, clonality, and stage of differentiation has significant implications for future experimental and clinical studies on normal and neoplastic T cells.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Flug
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Pelicci
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bonetti
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Knowles
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dalla-Favera
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002999:Clone Cells; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics*; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D012751:Sezary Syndrome / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes