PCR detection of clonal tcr gamma-gene rearrangements in a group of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas including a case of localized pagetoid reticulosis expressing the gamma-delta tcr

In this report, we describe the analysis of clonality performed using a PCR-based approach in a group of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas including a case of localised pagetoid reticulosis expressing the gamma delta T-cell receptor. For our PCR analysis DNA was extracted from frozen tissue of 10 cases of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas and subjected to polymerase chain reaction amplification using primers recognizing conserved sequences of the variable and joining regions of the T-cell receptor gamma chain gene. PCR products were then analyzed by high resolution non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Clonal TCR gamma gene rearrangements were detected in all the cases investigated including the case of localised pagetoid reticulosis. The PCR-based approach used in this study may provide an alternative to conventional Southern blot analysis for the analysis of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas as it is easy to perform and requires only minimal amounts of DNA. The findings in localized pagetoid reticulosis are consistent with the proliferation of monoclonal T-cells in lesional skin of this condition and provide evidence for the lymphoproliferative nature of this clinically benign disorder.