title: T cell receptor beta chain gene rearrangements in lymphoproliferative disorders of large granular lymphocytes/natural killer cells.
abstract: Twelve cases of T gamma LPD (lymphoproliferative disorders of Fc gamma receptor-bearing T cells) involving an expansion of large granular lymphocyte/natural killer (LGL/NK) cells were investigated for the expression of LGL/NK-associated markers and for T beta gene rearrangement. All the cases selected were classified as T gamma LPD on the basis of morphology, function, and phenotype of the circulating cells. 10 to 12 cases displayed clonal rearrangements of the T beta locus and expression of the T3 antigen, whereas the 2 remaining cases displayed the germline configuration of the T beta gene and no expression of the T3 antigen. T8, Mol, B73.1, and N901 antigens were variably expressed among both T beta+T3+ and T beta-T3- T gamma LPD cases. We suggest that individual T gamma LPD cases represent the clonal expansion of cells frozen at different stages of differentiation/activation within an individual hematopoietic LGL/NK lineage.
mesh_terms: D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000235:genetics; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007938:Leukemia / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D008218:Lymphocytosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D010641:Phenotype; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell