title: [Analysis of TCR V gamma gene diversity from peripheral blood in patients with chronic benzene poisoning].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the TCR V gamma gene repertoire diversity in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the patients with the chronic benzene poisoning.
  
  
  METHODS
  Complementarity determining region 3 (CDR3) of TCR V gamma subfamily genes were amplified in 10 patients with the chronic benzene poisoning using RT-PCR. The PCR products were further analyzed by genescan to evaluate clonality of T cells. 8 healthy persons served as control.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All V gamma subfamilies were detected in the 8 healthy donors. (1.30 +/- 0.48) V gamma subfamilies were detected in 10 patients. The number of detectable V gamma subfamilies present in the patients with the chronic benzene poisoning was significantly lower than in the control group (P < 0.01). The most frequently used V gamma genes in clonally expanded T-cells were V gamma II.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Skewed distribution and clonal expansion of TCR V gamma subfamily T cells could be found in the patients with the chronic benzene poisoning. This is the first report of clonal expansion TCR V gamma T cells in patients with chronic benzene poisoning. The bias pattern of TCR V alpha T cells may be due to the immune cytotoxicity from benzene.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hematology, Medical College, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wei-Wei
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001554:Benzene / Q000506:poisoning*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D022801:Complementarity Determining Regions / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D022801:Complementarity Determining Regions; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; D001554:Benzene