Unusual expression of CD94 on CD8+ TCR-alpha beta T cells in infectious mononucleosis.
Infectious mononucleosis, caused by primary Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, is usually a benign, self-limited lymphoproliferative disorder. We report a case of a 21-year-old woman who presented with fever, sore throat, severe neutropenia, and absolute lymphocytosis with atypical lymphocytes. In situ hybridization for EBV-encoded small RNA performed on the marrow aspirate clot specimen demonstrated scattered positive cells. EBV serology was compatible with primary infection. Flow cytometry immunophenotypic studies performed on aspirate material revealed a profoundly expanded population of CD8+ T-cell receptor (TCR)-alphabeta T cells with uniform expression of CD94. No evidence of a monoclonal T-cell population was found as assessed by V(beta) use with flow cytometry and by TCR gamma-chain gene rearrangement using a polymerase chain reaction method. Uniform expression of CD94 in an exuberant reactive proliferation of CD8+ TCR-alphabeta T cells in infectious mononucleosis has not been reported previously, and combined with atypical morphology might be misinterpreted as a malignant neoplasm.
Ren
Yongsheng
Y
Department of Hematopathology, Box 72, The University of Texas M D Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Medeiros
L Jeffrey
LJ
Amin
Hesham M
HM
Rytting
Michael E
ME
Jorgensen
Jeffrey L
JL
Chen
Weina
W
D000328:Adult; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007244:Infectious Mononucleosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D051920:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D051920:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta