Oligoclonal expansions of T-cell repertoire in gastric mucosa associated lymphoid tissue type B-cell lymphoma and adjacent gastritis.
Local stimulation by Helicobacter pylori (HP), autoantigen, and a concurrent T-cell-mediated stimulation of B cells are believed to play an important role in gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) type B cell lymphomagenesis. Many autoimmune diseases have shown to lead to a skewed T-cell repertoire with autoantigen specific expansions and deletions. Characterization of lymphoma and gastritis areas of seven gastrectomy specimens using a T-cell receptor beta variable chain (TCR betaV) family-specific reverse transcriptase (RT)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay and fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis revealed a local chronic and acute activation of T cells in lymphoma and an oligoclonal T-cell repertoire in gastritis and in lymphoma, partially sharing the same clones. Local activation and a partial identity suggest that an antigenic challenge caused by a common local pathogen may still continue to take place in MALT type lymphoma as in gastritis, consistent with the view that gastritis may be a precursor lesion of MALT type lymphoma. Expansions that were found only in one of the compartments suggest that also an immune hyperstimulation may contribute to the T-cell repertoire, possibly because of certain tissue antigens. Deletions of TCR betaV families found only in gastritis underline the view that autoantigen may play an important role in its pathogenesis.
Haedicke
W
W
Institute of Pathology, University of Würzburg, Germany.
Greiner
A
A
Seeberger
H
H
Müller-Hermelink
H K
HK
D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D005756:Gastritis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D017353:Gene Deletion; D019674:Genes, T-Cell Receptor beta; D006801:Humans; D018442:Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*