Original Articles


ANALYSIS OF T CELL CLONALITY BY CDR3 SIZE OF T-CELL ANTIGEN RECEPTOR V[3 REPERTOIRE IN HCL AND c-ALL*

Yang-qiu Li, Ming-chun Wang, W Siegert, CA Schmadt

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the distribution and clonality of TCR Vβsubfamily T cells in hairy cell leukemia (HCL) and common-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (c-ALL).
Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cell samples from 3 cases of HCL and 1 case of c-ALL were investigated for analysis of complementarity determining region 3 (CDR3) size of T cell receptor Vβ repertoire using reverse transcriptasepolymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The products were further analyzed by genescan to identify T cell clonality.
Results: Some Vβ subfamily PCR products from 4 patients contained monopeak (monoclone) or a dominant peak (oligoclone). In contrast, multipeak (polyclone) distributions were found in all Vβ subfamily PCR products from normal control cases.
Conclusion: T cell clonal expansion may be found in HCL and c-ALL cases that may indicate a host response directed against leukemia related antigen. In addition, it may be useful to detect the minimal residual disease.