[Amplification and specific expression of T-bet gene in nasal NK/T cell lymphoma].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the specific genetic alterations in nasal NK/T cell lymphoma (N-NK/T-L) and the significance thereof.


METHODS
Restriction landmark genomic scanning (RLGS) was performed on the specimen of a case of N-NK/T-L and the peripheral blood leukocytes of the same case. The RLGS image was analyzed with the Virtual genome scan (VGS) software so as to discover abnormality of T-bet gene. The discovered abnormal gene underwent cloning and preparation of probes. Southern blotting and dot blotting were performed on 3 cases of fresh N-NK/T-L tumor tissues and the genome of the case of peripheral blood lymphocytes. The expression of the T-bet (T-box expressed in T cell) gene in the tissue sections of 20 cases of N-NK/T-L, 17 cases of B cell lymphoma (BCL), 3 cases of normal spleen, and 5 cases of chronic nasopharyngitis was detected by in situ hybridization.


RESULTS
RLGS combined with VGS revealed a genomic alteration in the T-bet gene and consequent Southern and dot blotting confirmed this genomic alteration in the N-NK/T-L cells. In situ hybridization showed that the T-bet mRNA expression rate of the N-NK/T-L cells was 90.0% (18/20), significantly higher than that of the BCL (11.8%, 2/17, P < 0.01). T-bet mRNA expression was not detected in the normal spleen and chronic nasopharyngitis tissues.


CONCLUSIONS
The amplification and over-expression of the T-bet gene may play a role in the development of N-NK/T-L. The potential value of over-expression of T-bet gene in diagnosis of N-NK/T-L is worth further investigating.
Ye
Yu-hong
YH
Department of Pathology, First Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100034, China.
Li
Ting
T
Qi
Wen-xiu
WX
Guo
Zhi-qiang
ZQ
Zhang
Bo
B
D015139:Blotting, Southern; D005784:Gene Amplification; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000473:pathology*; D016399:Lymphoma, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D013154:Spleen / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D000098815:T-bet Transcription Factor
D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins; D000098815:T-bet Transcription Factor