Immune-mediated destruction of melanocytes in halo nevi is associated with the local expansion of a limited number of T cell clones.
The beta-chain repertoire of the T cells that infiltrate spontaneously regressing nevi (the halo nevus phenomenon) was studied. In addition to the infiltration of the halo nevi by cutaneous lymphocyte-associated Ag-positive lymphocytes, oligoclonal expansion of T cells was observed in all halo nevi of all patients. T cells using the same TCR beta-chain were observed in distinct halo nevi of the same patient but not in his peripheral blood, demonstrating a local expansion of common clones that are most likely activated by the Ag(s) shared by independent halo nevi of the same patient.
Musette
P
P
Institut de Recherche sur la Peau, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U312, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris, France.
Bachelez
H
H
Flageul
B
B
Delarbre
C
C
Kourilsky
P
P
Dubertret
L
L
Gachelin
G
G
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D001483:Base Sequence; D022801:Complementarity Determining Regions; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007137:Immunoglobulin alpha-Chains / Q000235:genetics; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000235:genetics; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*