Oligoclonal populations of T and B cells in a case of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma predominantly infiltrated by T cells of the VB5.1 family.
OBJECTIVE
Immunohistological and molecular characterisation of a case of peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AILD) type.


METHODS
Frozen and paraffin wax sections of the diagnostic lymph node were stained with a panel of T- and B-cell lineage monoclonal antibodies. DNA was isolated from the paraffin wax embedded biopsy material for T-cell receptor (TCR) and immunoglobulin (Ig) PCR amplification, and resultant PCR products were cloned and sequenced.


RESULTS
Immunohistological analysis of the presenting lymph node was consistent with an extensive infiltrate of pleomorphic CD3+CD8+ lymphocytes. Most (>80%) of these infiltrating CD3+ cells were also positive for the TCR VB5.1 gene family product, and were shown to be oligoclonal by TCRB PCR amplification and sequencing. Three oligoclones of B cells were also demonstrable by PCR amplification with Ig heavy chain primers and sequencing, a finding at variance with the diagnosis of AILD.


CONCLUSIONS
These data demonstrate the complexity and heterogeneity of PTCL which require extensive histological examination and molecular characterisation.
Hodges
E
E
Wessex Immunology Service, Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust.
Quin
C T
CT
Wright
D H
DH
Smith
J L
JL
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016175:B-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000235:genetics*; D016411:Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral / Q000276:immunology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000032:analysis; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*
D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell