Cross-reactive T-cell receptors in tumor and paraneoplastic target tissue.
BACKGROUND
According to established criteria, paraneoplastic encephalomyelitis with adrenal neuroblastoma comprises a definite paraneoplastic neurologic syndrome.


OBJECTIVE
To detect T-cell clones that cross-react against antigens shared between tumor and nervous system.


METHODS
Case study.


METHODS
Academic research. Patient A 22-year-old woman having paraneoplastic encephalomyelitis with adrenal neuroblastoma.


METHODS
We compared the T-cell receptor repertoires expressed in blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and neuroblastoma tumor tissue using complementary determining region 3 (CDR3) spectratyping and clone-specific polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
The T-cell receptor repertoire in cerebrospinal fluid was narrow compared with that in tumor and blood. Four T-cell clones from different tissues had identical T-cell receptor beta chains. Remarkably, the chains showed identical amino acid sequences but different nucleotide sequences.


CONCLUSIONS
These T cells represent ontogenetically distinct clones but share functionally identical receptors. They recognize the same antigen in nervous system and tumor tissue and represent an attractive target for selective therapy.
Institute of Clinical Neuroimmunology,University Hospital Grosshadern, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany.
Hannah L
HL
Pellkofer
Raymond
R
Voltz
Norbert
N
Goebels
Reinhard
R
Hohlfeld
Klaus
K
Dornmair
D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000276:immunology*; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis / Q000145:classification; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000276:immunology; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000276:immunology; D003429:Cross Reactions / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D020361:Paraneoplastic Syndromes, Nervous System / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000276:immunology*; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000032:analysis* / Q000145:classification; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000032:analysis; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology; D055815:Young Adult
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D015415:Biomarkers; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta