Sublethal gamma-radiation induces differentiation of CD4-/CD8- into CD4+/CD8+ thymocytes without T cell receptor beta rearrangement in recombinase activation gene 2-/- mice

DNA recombination of the immunoglobulin (Ig) or T cell receptor (TCR) gene loci is an essential step in the production of lymphocytes bearing antigen-specific receptors. Mice that lack the ability to rearrange their Ig and TCR gene loci are devoid of mature B and T cells. Complete rearrangement and expression of the TCR-beta chain has been suggested to allow immature thymocytes to switch from the CD4-/CD8- to the CD4+/CD8+ stage of thymic development. Thus, thymocytes from severe combined immune deficient (SCID) mice or mice deficient in recombinase activation genes (RAG), which do not undergo proper DNA rearrangement, are arrested at the early CD4-/CD8- stage of development. B cell precursors in SCID or RAG mice do not progress from the B220+/sIgM- /heat stable antigen (HSA)+/CD43+ to the B220+/sIgM-/HSA+/CD43- stage. In an attempt to reconstitute RAG-2-/- mice with bone marrow- or fetal liver-derived progenitor cells, we subjected these mice to sublethal doses of gamma-radiation. It is surprising that in the absence of donor cells, irradiated RAG-2-/- mice revealed a dramatic change in their lymphoid phenotype. 14 d after irradiation, the majority of thymocytes had advanced to the CD4+/CD8+ stage of T cell development and a small number of bone marrow precursors had progressed to the CD43-, HSAhi stage of B cell development. Analysis of the resulting CD4+/CD8+ thymocytes revealed no surface expression of the TCR/CD3 complex and no V-D-J rearrangement of the TCR-beta gene locus. Our findings provide evidence for a novel pathway that allows the transition of thymocytes from the CD4-/CD8- to the CD4+/CD8+ stage and that does not appear to require TCR-beta chain rearrangement.     

Recombinative events of the T cell antigen receptor delta gene in peripheral T cell lymphomas.

Recombinative events of the T cell antigen receptor (TCR) delta-chain gene were studied in 37 cases of peripheral T cell lymphoma (PTCL) and related to their clinical presentation and the expression of the alpha beta or gamma delta heterodimers as determined by immunostaining of frozen tissue samples. There were 22 cases of alpha beta, 5 cases of gamma delta, and 10 cases of silent TCR expressing neither the alpha beta nor gamma delta TCR. 5 different probes were used to examine the delta locus. The 22 cases of alpha beta PTCL displayed biallelic and monoallelic deletions; a monoallelic V delta 1 J delta 1 rearrangement was observed in 1 case and a monoallelic germ line configuration in 7 cases. The 5 cases of gamma delta PTCL displayed biallelic rearrangements: the productive rearrangements could be ascribed to V delta 1J delta 1 joining in 3 cases and VJ delta 1 joining in 2 cases according to the combined pattern of DNA hybridization with the appropriate probes and of cell reactivity with the TCR delta-1, delta TCS-1, and anti-V delta 2 monoclonal antibodies. In the VJ delta 1 joining, the rearranged V segments were located between V delta 1 and V delta 2. Interestingly, in the third group of 10 cases of silent PTCL, 5 cases were found to have a TCR gene configuration identical to that in the TCR alpha beta PTCL, as demonstrated by biallelic delta gene deletion. These 5 cases were CD3 positive. The 5 remaining cases showed a monoallelic delta gene rearrangement with a monoallelic germ line configuration in 4 and a monoallelic deletion in 1. Four of these cases were CD3 negative, which was consistent with an immature genotype the TCR commitent of which could not be ascertained. Finally, TCR gamma delta PTCL consisted of a distinct clinical morphological and molecular entity whereas TCR alpha beta and silent PTCL had a similar presentation.     

Rearrangement of variable region T cell receptor gamma genes in acute lymphoblastic leukemia. V gamma gene usage differs in mature and immature T cells.

Using probes recognizing variable regions (V gamma) and joining regions (J gamma) of the T cell receptor (TCR) gamma gene, we have analyzed the usage of V gamma genes in 24 patients with T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and 36 patients with B-precursor ALL. In CD3- T-ALL derived from immature T cells, V gamma genes more proximal to J gamma were frequently rearranged; V gamma 8, V gamma 9, V gamma 10, and V gamma 11 were used in 19 of 24 rearrangements. In contrast, CD3+ T-ALL derived from a more mature stage of T cell ontogeny, showed a high frequency of rearrangements involving V gamma genes distal to J gamma; V gamma 2, V gamma 3, V gamma 4, and V gamma 5 were used in 17 of 25 rearrangements. In B-precursor ALL, no notable bias of V gamma gene usage was observed. This probably reflects the possibility that TCR genes may not rearrange according to a T cell hierarchy when under control of a B cell gene program. Furthermore, deletions of those V gamma genes located 3' to rearranged V gamma genes were observed in all patients analyzed. This supports the theory that loop deletion is a major mechanism for TCR-gamma gene rearrangement.     

p53 prevents maturation to the CD4+CD8+ stage of thymocyte differentiation in the absence of T cell receptor rearrangement

Rearrangement of the immunoglobulin (Ig) and T cell receptor (TCR) gene loci allows for the generation of B and T lymphocytes with antigen- specific receptors. Complete rearrangement and expression of the TCR- beta chain enables immature thymocytes to differentiate from the CD4- CD8- to the CD4+CD8+ stage mice in which rearrangement is impaired, such as severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice or recombinase activating gene-deficient (RAG-/-) mice, lack mature B and T lymphocytes. Thymocytes from these mice are arrested at the CD4-CD8- stage of T cell development. We previously observed that thymocytes from RAG-2-/- mice exposed to gamma radiation differentiate from CD4- CD8- into CD4+CD8+ without TCR-beta chain rearrangement. We now report that irradiated RAG-2-/- thymocytes undergo direct somatic mutations at the p53 gene locus, and that p53 inactivation is associated with maturation of RAG2-/- thymocytes to the CD4+CD8+ stage. Generation of RAG2-/- and p53-/- double-deficient mice revealed that, in the absence of TCR-beta chain rearrangement, loss of p53 function is sufficient for CD4-CD8- thymocytes to differentiate into the CD4+CD8+ stage of T cell development. Our data provide evidence for a novel p53 mediated checkpoint in early thymocyte development that regulates the transition of CD4-CD8- into CD4+CD8+ thymocytes.     

Multiple rearrangements in T cell receptor alpha chain genes maximize the production of useful thymocytes

Peripheral T lymphocytes each express surface T cell receptor (TCR) alpha and beta chains of a single specificity. These are produced after random somatic rearrangements in TCR alpha and beta germline genes. Published model systems using mice expressing TCR alpha and/or beta chain transgenes have shown that allelic exclusion occurs conventionally for TCR-beta. TCR alpha chain expression, however, appears to be less strictly regulated, as endogenous TCR alpha chains are often found in association with transgenic TCR beta chains in TCR alpha/beta transgenic mice. This finding, coupled with the unique structure of the TCR alpha locus, has led to the suggestion that unlike TCR beta and immunoglobulin heavy chain genes, TCR alpha genes may make multiple rearrangements on each chromosome. In the current study, we demonstrate that the majority of TCR-, noncycling thymocytes spontaneously acquire surface expression of CD3/TCR. Further, we show that cultured immature thymocytes originally expressing specific TCR alpha and beta chains may lose surface expression of the original TCR alpha, but not beta chains. These data provide evidence that not only must multiple rearrangements occur, but that TCR alpha gene rearrangement continues even after surface expression of a TCR alpha/beta heterodimer, apparently until the recombination process is halted by positive selection, or the cell dies. Sequential rearrangement of TCR alpha chain genes facilitates enhanced production of useful thymocytes, by increasing the frequency of production of both in-frame rearrangements and positively selectable TCR alpha/beta heterodimers.     

Transient rearrangements of the T cell antigen receptor alpha locus in early thymocytes

The dull Ly-1 double-negative (Ly-1dull, Lyt-2-, L3T4-) subpopulation appears to be the major precursor group of T lymphocytes in the thymus. In examining the status of the alpha, beta, and gamma chain genes for T cell receptors (TCR) in this population of cells and hybridomas made from them, we find that all of these loci appear to begin DNA rearrangements in a nearly simultaneous fashion. In the case of the gamma genes, these involve V gamma----J gamma C gamma gene rearrangements; with the beta chain genes, both D beta----J beta C beta rearrangement and V beta----D beta J beta C beta rearrangements are evident; and in the case of the alpha locus, assayed in part by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, they take the form of a novel series of rearrangements occurring 80 kb or more 5' to the C alpha gene. These alpha locus rearrangements are well away from any of the J alpha gene segments found in cDNA clones to date and are deleted in most mature thymocytes and functional T cell lines. Therefore they appear to represent a distinct class of rearrangement that occurs before V alpha----J alpha joining. These distinctions between the character of the TCR gene rearrangements in these cells represent useful markers in further distinguishing different stages of T cell differentiation within this compartment of early T cells. In addition, the unexpected discovery of clonal rearrangements so far away from any of the expressed J alpha gene segments, and at a stage where there is little or no stable C alpha RNA present, has interesting implications for the hierarchy of TCR gene expression.     

T cell receptor alpha-, beta-, and gamma-genes in T cell and pre-B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

We examined alpha-, beta-, and gamma-T cell receptor (TCR) gene activation within acute lymphoblastic leukemias (ALLs) that represent early stages of B and T cell development. We wished to determine if TCR rearrangement and expression was lineage restricted, showed any developmental hierarchy, or could identify new subsets of T cells. Rearrangement of gamma and beta TCR genes occurred early in development but in no set order, and most T-ALLs (22/26) were of sufficient maturity to have rearranged both genes. T-ALLs preferentially rearranged C gamma 2 versus the C gamma 1 complex; no preference within the beta locus was apparent. Once rearranged, the beta TCR continued to be expressed (11/13), whereas the gamma TCR was rarely expressed (3/14). The alpha TCR was expressed only in more mature T-ALLs (8/14) that usually displayed T3. The 3A-1 T cell associated antigen appeared earliest in development followed by T11 and T3. Within pre-B cell ALL a higher incidence of lineage spillover was noted for gamma TCR rearrangements (8/17) than for beta rearrangements (3/17). This also contrasts with the only occasional rearrangement of immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy chains (3/25) in T-ALL. However, in pre-B ALL the pattern of gamma TCR usage was distinct from that of T cells, with the C gamma 1 complex utilized more frequently. Almost all ALLs could be classified as pre-B or T cell in type by combining Ig and TCR genes with monoclonal antibodies recognizing surface antigens, although examples of lineage duality were noted. Unique subpopulations of cells were discovered including two genetically uncommitted ALLs that failed to rearrange either Ig or TCR loci. Moreover, two T lymphoblasts were identified that possessed the T3 molecule but failed to express alpha plus beta TCR genes. These T-ALLs may represent a fortuitous transformation of T cell subsets with alternative T3-Ti complexes.     

T cell receptor gamma and delta rearrangements in hematologic malignancies. Relationship to lymphoid differentiation.

We have studied recombinatorial events of the T cell receptor delta and gamma chain genes in hematopoietic malignancies and related these to normal stages of lymphoid differentiation. T cell receptor delta gene recombinatorial events were found in 91% of acute T cell lymphoblastic leukemia, 68% of non-T, non-B lymphoid precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and 80% of mixed lineage acute leukemias. Mature B-lineage leukemias and acute nonlymphocytic leukemias retained the T-cell receptor delta gene in the germline configuration. The incidence of T cell receptor gamma and delta was particularly high in CD10+CD19+ non-T, non-B lymphoid precursor ALL. In lymphoid precursor ALL, T cell receptor delta was frequently rearranged while T cell receptor gamma was in the germline configuration. This suggests that TCR delta rearrangements may precede TCR gamma rearrangements in lymphoid ontogeny. In T-ALL, only concordant T cell receptor delta and gamma rearrangements were observed. Several distinct rearrangements were defined using a panel of restriction enzymes. Most of the rearrangements observed in T-ALL represented joining events of J delta 1 to upstream regions. In contrast, the majority of rearrangements in lymphoid precursor ALL most likely represented D-D or V-D rearrangements, which have been found to be early recombinatorial events of the TCR delta locus. We next analyzed TCR delta rearrangements in five CD3+TCR gamma/delta+ ALL and cell lines. One T-ALL, which demonstrated a different staining pattern with monoclonal antibodies against the products of the TCR gamma/delta genes than the PEER cell line, rearranges J delta 1 to a currently unidentified variable region.     

T cell receptor gene recombination patterns and mechanisms: cell death, rescue, and T cell production

The antigen-specific receptors of T and B lymphocytes are generated by somatic recombination between noncontiguous gene segments encoding the variable portions of these molecules. The semirandom nature of this process, while desirable for the generation of diversity, has been thought to exact a high price in terms of sterile (out-of-frame) products. Historically, the majority of T lymphocytes generated in mammals were thought to be useless, either because they generated such sterile rearrangements or because the receptors generated did not appropriately recognize self-molecules (i.e., positive and negative selection). In the studies described here, we characterize the onset of T cell receptor (TCR) alpha and beta chain gene rearrangements and quantitate their progression throughout T cell development. The results show that T cell production efficiency is enhanced through (a) rearrangement of TCR-beta chain genes early during T cell development, with selective expansion of those cells possessing in-frame rearrangements; (b) deletion of sterile rearrangements at the TCR-alpha chain locus through ordered (proximal to distal) sequential recombination; and (c) modification of nonselectable alpha/beta heterodimer specificities through generation and expression of new TCR- alpha chains. In addition, we demonstrate strict correlations between successful TCR-beta gene rearrangement, the onset of TCR-alpha gene rearrangement, rapid cell division, and programmed cell death, which together serve to maintain cell turnover and homeostasis during T cell development.     

Evidence that gammadelta versus alphabeta T cell fate determination is initiated independently of T cell receptor signaling

Two types of T cells, alphabeta and gammadelta, develop in vertebrates. How these two T cell lineages arise from a common thymic T progenitor is poorly understood. Differentiation of alphabeta lineage T cells requires the surrogate alpha chain (pTalpha), which associates with the T cell receptor (TCR) beta chain to form the pre-TCR. gammadelta lineage development does not appear to involve an obligatory surrogate chain, but instead requires productive rearrangement and expression of both TCR gamma and delta genes. It has been proposed that the quality of signals transmitted by the pre-TCR and gammadelta TCR are distinct and that these "instructive" signals determine the lineage fate of an uncommitted progenitor cell. Here we show that the thymic T progenitor cells (CD25(+)CD44(+)c-kit(+)CD3(-)CD4(-)CD8(-) thymocytes, termed pro-T cells) from young adult mice that have yet to express TCRs can be subdivided based on interleukin 7 receptor (IL-7R) expression. These subsets exhibit differential potential to develop into gammadelta versus alphabeta lineage (CD4+CD8+ cells) in the thymus. Upon intrathymic injection, IL-7R(neg-lo) pro-T cells generated a 13-fold higher ratio of alphabeta lineage to gammadelta lineage cells than did IL-7R(+) pro-T cells. Much of this difference was due to a fivefold greater potential of IL-7R(+) pro-T cells to develop into TCR-gammadelta T cells. Evidence indicates that this biased developmental potential is not a result of enhanced TCR-gamma gene rearrangement/expression in IL-7R(+) pro-T cells. These results indicate that the pro-T cells are heterogeneous in developmental potential before TCR gene rearrangement and suggest that in some precursor cells the initial lineage commitment is independent of TCR-mediated signals.     

T细胞中TCR Vα40与TCR Dδ3,Jδ1和ψJα重排的特点

利用巢式PCR扩增10例正常人外周血单个核细胞、4例分选的外周血CD3^ 细胞和7例心胸外科手术的非免疫性疾病和非肿瘤病人的正常胸腺细胞DNA的TCR Vα40基因与Jδ1，Dδ3和ψJα重排的情况，从对不同含量DNA的PCR分析，了解其重排分布频率。结果显示，TCR Vα40分别与Jδ1，Dδ3和ψJα重排均可见于多6数外周血T细胞和胸腺细胞中，对不同含量DNA的PCR分析显示TCR Vα40重排的分布频率在外周血和胸腺细胞有所不同。研究结果提示，TCR Vα40-ψJα的重排最常见于成熟和未成熟T细胞中，而TCR Vα40-Dδ3则在未成熟T细胞中发生频率更高。     

9例γδT细胞淋巴瘤/白血病患者的临床及实验室特征

目的 报告9例γδ T细胞淋巴瘤/白血病患者的临床及实验室特征.方法 对2007至2010年住院诊治的患者,常规询问病史,进行体检及实验室检测.对有异常细胞的骨髓或脾组织用流式细胞分析技术(FCM)行免疫分型,同时用PCR法检测TCRγ、TCRδ基因克隆性重排,用G显带技术分析染色体,用多重筑巢式PCR技术筛查急性白血病基因及1-8型人类疱疹病毒基因,并行形态学及细胞化学染色.根据表达TCRγδ链来确定γδT细胞,根据T细胞抗原表达异常确定恶性γδT细胞,根据γδT细胞表达CD34、CD99、TDT、CD1a及急性白血病基因等确定为前体γδT细胞.结果 共9例患者经FCM分析诊断为γδT细胞淋巴瘤/白血病,初诊时8例患者骨髓中检测出大量恶性细胞,细胞形态同原始细胞.5例患者诊断为急性T淋巴细胞白血病(T-ALL)或淋巴母细胞淋巴瘤(LBL)(γδT型),4例患者诊断为肝脾γδT细胞淋巴瘤(HSγδTCL).行TCR基因克隆重排检测的6例患者均检测出有克隆性TCRγ和(或)TCRδ基因重排.全部患者化疗难以完全缓解(CR)或CR后很快复发,5例接受异基因造血干细胞移植(allo-HSCT)的患者4例持续CR,CR时间分别为2、2、3、12个月;1例TALL(γδT型)患者在allo-HSCT后1个月内复发.结论 γδT细胞淋巴瘤/白血病的发病率可能比既往报道的高,部分T-ALL/LBL也为γδT细胞型;FCM是快速可靠的诊断方法,克隆性TCRγ和(或)TCRδ基因重排阳性有助于诊断;患者预后差,allo-HSCT可能是唯一可治愈的方法.

Abstract：

Objective To analyze the clinical and laboratory features of 9 cases of γδT cell lymphoma or leukemia.Methods From 2007 to 2011, 9 patients with γδT-cell lymphoma/leukemia were diagnosed in our hospital.The immunophenotype of the abnormal cells were detected by flow cytometry, clonal gene rearrangement of IgH,TCRγ,TCRδ by PCR, chromosome karyotype analysis by G banding, acute leukemia gene and the DNA of type 1-8 human herpes virus by mulplex nested PCR, The γδT cells were determined by T cell with TCR γδ chain, the malignant γδ T cells by the abnormal expression of T cell antigens and the precursor malignant γδ T cells by the expression of CD34, TDT ,CD99, CD1a or acute leukemia genes.Results In the 9 patients with γδT cell lymphoma leukemia, significant malignantγδT cells infiltration of bone marrow were found in 8 with blast morphology.5 were diagnosed as T-ALL/LBL(γδT type) and 4 HSγδ TCL.The clonal gene rearrangement of TCRγ and/or TCRδ were detected in 6/6 patients.Patients either did not achieve complete remission (CR) after induction therapy or relapsed quickly after CR.Only 4/5 patients remained continuous CR(CCR) at 2,2,3,12 months respectively, after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(allo-HSCT), the fifth T-ALL(γδT) relapsed 1 month after allo-HSCT .Conclusion s The incidence of γδ T cell lymphoma or leukemia may be higher than reported, part of them were T-ALL/LBL with poor prognoses.FCM and clonal gene rearrangement of TCRγ and/or TCRδ are helpful to diagnosis.Allo-HSCT may be the only curative approach.     

Premature expression of T cell receptor (TCR)alphabeta suppresses TCRgammadelta gene rearrangement but permits development of gammadelta lineage T cells

The T cell receptor (TCR)gammadelta and the pre-TCR promote survival and maturation of early thymocyte precursors. Whether these receptors also influence gammadelta versus alphabeta lineage determination is less clear. We show here that TCRgammadelta gene rearrangements are suppressed in TCRalphabeta transgenic mice when the TCRalphabeta is expressed early in T cell development. This situation offers the opportunity to examine the outcome of gammadelta versus alphabeta T lineage commitment when only the TCRalphabeta is expressed. We find that precursor thymocytes expressing TCRalphabeta not only mature in the alphabeta pathway as expected, but also as CD4(-)CD8(-) T cells with properties of gammadelta lineage cells. In TCRalphabeta transgenic mice, in which the transgenic receptor is expressed relatively late, TCRgammadelta rearrangements occur normally such that TCRalphabeta(+)CD4(-)CD8(-) cells co-express TCRgammadelta. The results support the notion that TCRalphabeta can substitute for TCRgammadelta to permit a gammadelta lineage choice and maturation in the gammadelta lineage. The findings could fit a model in which lineage commitment is determined before or independent of TCR gene rearrangement. However, these results could be compatible with a model in which distinct signals bias lineage choice and these signaling differences are not absolute or intrinsic to the specific TCR structure.     

Enhancer-dependent and -independent steps in the rearrangement of a human T cell receptor delta transgene

The rearrangement and expression of T cell receptor (TCR) gene segments occurs in a highly ordered fashion during thymic ontogeny of T lymphocytes. To study the regulation of gene rearrangement within the TCR alpha/delta locus, we generated transgenic mice that carry a germline human TCR delta minilocus that includes V delta 1, V delta 2, D delta 3, J delta 1, J delta 3, and C delta segments, and either contains or lacks the TCR delta enhancer. We found that the enhancer- positive construct rearranges stepwise, first V to D, and then V-D to J. Construct V-D rearrangement mimics a unique property of the endogenous TCR delta locus. V-D-J rearrangement is T cell specific, but is equivalent in alpha/beta and gamma/delta T lymphocytes. Thus, either there is no commitment to the alpha/beta and gamma/delta T cell lineages before TCR delta gene rearrangement, or if precommitment occurs, it does not operate directly on TCR delta gene cis-acting regulatory elements to control TCR delta gene rearrangement. Enhancer- negative mice display normal V to D rearrangement, but not V-D to J rearrangement. Thus, the V-D to J step is controlled by the enhancer, but the V to D step is controlled by separate elements. The enhancer apparently controls access to J delta 1 but not D delta 3, suggesting that a boundary between two independently regulated domains of the minilocus lies between these elements. Within the endogenous TCR alpha/delta locus, this boundary may represent the 5' end of a chromatin regulatory domain that is opened by the TCR delta enhancer during T cell development. The position of this boundary may explain the unique propensity of the TCR delta locus to undergo early V to D rearrangement. Our results indicate that the TCR delta enhancer performs a crucial targeting function to regulate TCR delta gene rearrangement during T cell development.     

非霍奇金淋巴瘤患者免疫球蛋白及T细胞受体基因重排研究

目的 研究非霍奇金淋巴瘤(NHL)患者骨髓或外周血免疫球蛋白(Ig)/T细胞受体(TCR)基因单克隆重排特点及其临床意义.方法 以BIOMED-2引物系统及多重PCR方法对139例NHL患者骨髓或外周血标本进行Ig及TCR基因重排检测.结果 在B系NHL(B-NHL)中,82例慢性淋巴细胞白血病(CLL)患者中有70例(85.4％)检出Ig基因单克隆重排,其中IgH、IgK、IgL单克隆重排阳性率分别为46.3％(38例)、62.2％(51例)和1.2％(1例).其他类型的B-NHL患者有39.4％(33例中有13例)检出Ig基因单克隆重排,其中IgH和IgK单克隆重排阳性率分别为33.3％(11例)和39.4％(13例),未检测到IgL基因单克隆重排.T系NHL(T-NHL)患者中有50.0％(24例中有12例)检出TCR基因单克隆重排,其中TCRB和TCRG单克隆重排阳性率分别为8.3％(2例)和45.8％(11例),TCRB和TCRG双重基因重排阳性率为4.2％(1例),未检测到TCRD单克隆重排.11例早期(Ann Arbor Ⅰ、Ⅱ期)与46例晚期(Ⅲ、Ⅳ期)患者的Ig/TCR基因单克隆重排阳性率分别为36.4％和45.6％;10例惰性患者和47例侵袭性患者的Ig/TCR基因单克隆重排阳性率分别为40.0％和44.7％,差异均无统计学意义(P值均＞0.05).除外CLL的57例NHL患者骨髓涂片检测骨髓侵犯阳性率为12.3％,明显低于骨髓基因重排检测阳性率(43.9％),两者差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).敏感性试验表明多重PCR检测恶性克隆的敏感性为3.12％～6.25％.结论 NHL的临床分期和恶性程度不同,其Ig/TCR基因单克隆重排阳性率有差异,但未能证实其相关性.联合应用BIOMED-2多重引物可提高PCR检测骨髓和(或)外周血Ig/TCR基因单克隆重排的敏感性.多重PCR对NHL患者骨髓侵犯检测的敏感性优于骨髓涂片检查,有助于早期发现骨髓侵犯及预防复发.     

The E delta enhancer controls the generation of CD4- CD8- alphabetaTCR-expressing T cells that can give rise to different lineages of alphabeta T cells

It is well established that the pre-T cell receptor for antigen (TCR) is responsible for efficient expansion and differentiation of thymocytes with productive TCRbeta rearrangements. However, Ptcra- as well as Tcra-targeting experiments have suggested that the early expression of Tcra in CD4- CD8- cells can partially rescue the development of alphabeta CD4+ CD8+ cells in Ptcra-deficient mice. In this study, we show that the TCR E delta but not E alpha enhancer function is required for the cell surface expression of alphabetaTCR on immature CD4- CD8- T cell precursors, which play a crucial role in promoting alphabeta T cell development in the absence of pre-TCR. Thus, alphabetaTCR expression by CD4- CD8- thymocytes not only represents a transgenic artifact but occurs under physiological conditions.     

Regulation of thymocyte development through CD3. I. Timepoint of ligation of CD3 epsilon determines clonal deletion or induction of developmental program

Several recent observations suggest that successful rearrangement of the T cell receptor (TCR) beta locus induces several important events in thymocyte maturation. Allelic exclusion is achieved by interruption of further rearrangement of the beta locus, and CD4-8- interleukin (IL)- 2R+ cells enter the CD4+8+IL-2R- stage. The actual molecular events regulating this important control point are unknown, but may be related to the expression of the TCR-beta locus in immature CD4-8- thymocytes. It is not clear whether maturation is induced by intracellular appearance of TCR-beta chain or by signal transduction through an immature TCR complex on the thymocyte membrane, possibly involving TCR- beta chain homodimers and CD3. Here we show that early addition of anti- CD3 mAb to fetal thymic organ cultures induces all known events associated with the acquisition of the CD4+8+ stage. Expression of CD4 and CD8 is accelerated, IL-2R alpha is downregulated, and the cells fail to produce TCR-beta, possibly based on premature cessation of beta gene rearrangement. Upon stimulation with anti-CD3 antibodies, we see calcium mobilization in 15% of all CD4-8- thymocytes with no detectable surface TCR expression. These results suggest that functional CD3 is expressed on immature thymocytes at very low concentrations before the appearance of a complete TCR-beta chain. Ligation of CD3 at this stage may mimic the maturation signal normally generated by the immature TCR- beta homodimer-CD3 complex. The results are consistent with the notion that acquisition of the CD4+8+ stage involves signal transduction through an immature TCR complex. Later in thymocyte development, ligation of CD3 results in deletion of CD4+8+ cells. Thus, signal transduction through CD3 may result in entirely different cellular responses, depending on the stage of thymocyte differentiation. These results suggest an involvement of CD3 as a link in signal transduction for at least two different decision points in the development of a thymocyte.