The tale and molecular trail of a disseminated ocular adnexal malt lymphoma

Purpose To report a case of a MALT lymphoma of the eyelid, which recurred in several sites over a time period of 14 years, and where the identical B-cell clone could be demonstrated in most samples using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and GeneScan analysis. Methods Clinical, histologic, immunohistochemical, PCR and GeneScan analysis findings are presented. Results A 58-year-old woman presented with a swelling of the left lower lid. Excisional biopsy of the tumour revealed a low-grade malignant B-cell Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) of MALT type. Despite localized radiochemotherapy, the patient developed recurrences occurring in the pharynx, in the right orbit, in the skin of the right foot, and in the bone marrow 1, 7, 11 and 14 years, respectively, after establishment of the first diagnosis. PCR for a rearrangement of the immunoglobulin heavy chains (IgH) and GeneScan analysis of the samples produced amplificates identical in size at most sites, indicating derivation from the same B-cell clone. Conclusions It is generally assumed that ocular adnexal MALT lymphoma is associated with an indolent clinical course. Using IgH-PCR and GeneScan analysis, we demonstrate that the current case illustrates that these lymphomas do indeed require regular control examinations following treatment, as they often recur and disseminate in some patients in an unpredictable manner.     

乳腺癌淋巴结微转移患者克隆性T细胞TCRα链CDR3谱型分析

目的 分析乳腺癌微转移淋巴结T细胞克隆性增生及TCR α链谱型偏移情况,了解抗肿瘤T细胞克隆的分子特征。方法 利用RT-PCR扩增10例乳腺癌微转移淋巴结T细胞32个TCR可变区（AV）亚家族的基因,基因扫描检测T细胞克隆性及TCR AV亚家族取用情况,对单克隆家族行PCR扩增TCR α链全长序列,构建重组质粒后测序,分析互补决定区（CDR3）序列。结果 乳腺癌淋巴结微转移患者T细胞呈单、寡克隆、寡克隆趋势和多克隆增生,不同患者表达1～4个TCR AV亚家族。克隆性T细胞的CDR3氨基酸序列不同,但是病例4和病例8含有相同的CDR3氨基酸基序：AM和DDKII。结论 乳腺癌TCR AV基因表达具有多样性特点,TCR AV家族的取用可能与乳腺癌肿瘤抗原的多样性和不同个体的免疫应答反应有关。相同CDR3氨基酸基序的发现可能对乳腺癌的T细胞介导免疫治疗提供帮助。     

Analysis of the CDR3 region of alpha/beta T‐cell receptors (TCRs) and TCR BD gene double‐stranded recombination signal sequence breaks end in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of T‐lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Recently, numerous reports have highlighted the restriction of the CDR3 length of T‐cell receptor (TCR) beta chain in T‐cells infiltrating solid tumors and hematological malignancies. However, these studies ignored the restriction of CDR3 length of TCR alpha chain and few of them attempted to reveal the mechanisms of the oligo‐clonal expansion of T cells in the tumors. The primary aims of this study were twofold to: (i) analyze the CDR3 length of TCR alpha and beta chain in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of T‐lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T‐ALL); and (ii) discover the relationship between the clonality of T cells and the process of TCR rearrangement in peripheral T cells. To this end, we investigated the TCR BV and TCR AV family spectratypes of two T‐ALL patients and healthy controls using the immunoscope spectratyping technique. We found that the spectratypes exhibited a Gaussian distribution in healthy controls. However, the TCR repertoires of the two patients were highly restricted in the number of different TCR BV and TCR AV family members present. Furthermore, we found that the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of two T‐ALL patients had the recombination signal sequence (RSS) 5′‐ and 3′‐breaks end in the TCR BD2 gene using a specialized ligation‐mediated polymerase chain reaction, implying the ongoing recombination of the TCR beta gene. Analysis of the particular CDR3 length of TCR alpha/beta T cells might be helpful for further study of the individualized therapy of T‐ALL. This information will also be helpful in exploring new immunological pathogenesis and facilitating the design of a T‐ALL vaccine, as well as in improving our understanding of healthy human T‐cell development.     

T‐cell receptor γ gene rearrangement in cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma: comparative study of polymerase chain reaction with denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and GeneScan analysis

Background The usefulness of T‐cell receptor gene rearrangement (TCR‐GR) analyses for differentiating cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma (CTCL) from benign inflammatory disorders (BID) has been insufficiently studied to date. Objectives To evaluate the diagnostic value of TCR‐GR analyses, comparing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis and BIOMED‐2 standardized protocol PCR with GeneScan analysis (BIOMED‐2‐GS). Methods Both types of PCR were performed in 157 patients evaluated for initial features suggestive of CTCL between 1996 and 2007. After clinical and histological review, the final diagnosis was CTCL in 77 cases and BID in 80 cases. Results DGGE and BIOMED‐2‐GS had a similar diagnostic value for distinguishing CTCL from BID, with a sensitivity of 74% and 77%, respectively, and a specificity of 86%. The observed concordance between both methods was 90% and the kappa coefficient was 0·79. Positivity rates did not depend on the PCR method but varied according to the type of CTCL (73–75% in mycosis fungoides, 90–100% in Sézary syndrome, 40–60% in lymphomatoid papulosis and 100% in other types). The positivity rate in BID was 14% with both methods. The most frequent BID with a monoclonal pattern were drug‐induced cutaneous lymphoid hyperplasia, erythrodermic psoriasis and pityriasis lichenoides chronica. Conclusions BIOMED‐2‐GS analysis of the TCRγ gene is as sensitive and specific as DGGE for CTCL diagnosis. In addition, BIOMED‐2‐GS is less time‐consuming and gives more information concerning the size and nature of TCR‐GR.     

Is reduced CAG repeat length in androgen receptor gene associated with risk of prostate cancer in Indian population?

Shorter CAG repeats in androgen receptor (AR) gene have been found to be associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer (CaP). Ethnic variations in CAG repeat length may contribute to varying risks in different populations. To evaluate the prognostic significance of androgen receptor (AR) CAG repeats in Indian population for CaP, genomic DNA from 113 CaP, 57 benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) patients and 133 normal healthy controls were examined by using a PCR-based GeneScan analysis. The mean number of CAG repeat in CaP was significantly lower as compared to the healthy controls (20.26 vs 22.98; p = 0.016). The odds ratio for CaP was 2.96 (p < 0.01), when individuals with short CAG repeat (< or =22) were compared with those having longer repeats (>22). A significant association was also observed between short CAG repeat and young age at diagnosis (OR 2.18; p = 0.04). The mean CAG repeat was not significantly different in BPH and healthy controls; however, BPH patients showed a tendency towards short CAG repeats. Thus, our results show that CAG repeat polymorphism in AR gene is significantly associated with CaP risk, suggesting that AR CAG polymorphism may act as a risk modifier to CaP in Indian population.     

Analysis of the CDR3 length of TCR alphabeta T cells in the peripheral blood of patients with chronic hepatitis B.

To clarify the characteristics of TCR alphabeta T cells in the peripheral blood of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), we investigated the patterns of Complementarity Determining Region3 (CDR3) length distribution for all 24 TCR BV gene families and 32 TCR AV gene family in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of two patients with CHB and two healthy controls by immunoscope spectratyping technique. We found that the profiles of CDR3 length distribution for all TCR AV and TCR BV family showed Gaussian distribution (the polyclonal TCR alphabeta T cells) in healthy controls, however, the restricted usage of TCR BV and TCR AV family (the oligoclonal TCR alphabeta T cells) has been monitored in two CHB patients, furthermore, the oligoclonal TCR alphabeta T cells showed the different CDR3 sequences and length, it might be correlated to the different epitope of hepatitis B virus (HBV) or the different HLA type of the patients. Detailed analysis of the CDR3 length of TCR alphabeta T cells might be interesting to light on the further study of the individualized immunotherapy of CHB and the further research of the new T lymphocyte epitope vaccine of HBV.     

Segregation analysis in X-linked ichthyosis: paternal transmission of the affected X-chromosome

Background Steroid sulphatase (STS) deficiency has been described in a diversity of ethnic populations. The phenotype of STS deficiency, X‐linked ichthyosis (XLI), is a genodermatosis characterized by dark scaly skin. About 90% of patients with XLI have complete deletion of the entire STS gene and flanking sequences. The variable number tandem repeats, on either side of the STS gene, appear to play an important role in these interstitial deletions due to nonallelic homologous recombination (NAHR). It is difficult to establish if this NAHR occurs between two chromosomes, between sister chromatids or between the same chromatid. Objectives To identify the parental origin of the affected X‐chromosome in seven unrelated sporadic cases of XLI. Methods Amplification of the regions from DXS89 to DXS1134 (telomeric–centromeric) including the 5′ and 3′ ends of the STS gene was performed through polymerase chain reaction. GeneScan analysis was performed using the DXS987, DXS8051 and DXS1060 markers located on the short arm of the X‐chromosome. Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis was performed with a digoxigenin‐labelled cDNA STS probe. Results STS gene deletion in patients with XLI involved the sequences DXS1139 and DXF22S1. In five families segregation analysis showed paternal transmission of the affected X‐chromosome in the XLI carrier. It was not possible to determine the parental origin of the affected X‐chromosome in two families. Conclusions These data strongly suggest that STS gene deletion occurred in the male meiosis probably due to an intrachromosomal event, recombination between S232 sequences on the same DNA molecule, or during the process of DNA replication.     

白假丝酵母菌基因型和假丝酵母菌群分布与外阴阴道假丝酵母菌病严重程度的相关性分析(英文)

探讨致病假丝酵母菌菌群分布以及白假丝酵母菌基因型与外阴阴道假丝酵母菌病症状严重程度的关系。方法我们对2009年9月~2010年10月在我院就诊的,以及生活习惯、饮食、既往用药及工作环境相似的急性VVC患者,利用聚合酶链反应-单链构象多态性分析技术(PCR-SSCP)对其阴道来源的假丝酵母菌进行分子水平的菌种鉴定,结合SSCP和基因扫描(GeneScan)对白假丝酵母菌CAI区进行多态性分析确定其基因型,对VVC的严重程度进行临床症状体征的评分。结果从获得的198份标本中分离白假丝酵母菌140株(70.7%);58株非白假丝酵母菌(29.3%)。198名患者中重度VVC 95人,轻中度VVC 103人。白假丝酵母菌在重度VVC和轻中度VVC患者中所占比列分别为62.1%和76.6%(P=0.011)。140株C.albican共检出38种CAI基因型且集中分布于少数几种,其中基因型30-45(44株,31.43%)和32-46(23株,16.43%)最常见,其次为基因型30-46(4株,2.86%)和32-47(9株,6.42%)。以上4种优势基因型菌株在重度VVC和轻中度VVC患者中的分布差异有统计学意义(77.9%vs 42.0%,P<0.001)。结论白假丝酵母菌仍然是VVC的主要致病菌,但非白假丝酵母菌与白假丝酵母菌相比更容易引起重度VVC,白假丝酵母菌的基因型与VVC严重程度有关。     

Expression of recombination-activating genes and T cell receptor gene recombination in the human T cell leukemia cell line

Background Recent studies have suggested that mature T cells can change their specificity through reexpression of recombination-activating genes （RAG） and RAG-mediated V（D）J recombination. This process is named receptor revision and has been observed in mature peripheral T cells from transgenic mice and human donors. However, whether the receptor revision in mature T cells is a random or orientated process remains poorly understood. Here we used the Jurkat human T cell line, which represents a mature stage of T cell development, as a model to investigate the regulation of T cell receptor （TCR） gene recombination. Methods TCR Dβ-Jβ signal joint T cell receptor excision DNA circles （sjTRECs） were determined by nested and seminested PCR. Double-strand DNA breaks at recombination signal sequences （RSSs） in the TCRVβ chain locus were detected by ligation-mediated-PCR. Further analysis of the complementarity-determining region 3 （CDR3） size of the TCRVβ chain was examined by the TCR GeneScan technique. Results RAG1, RAG2, and three crucial components of the nonhomologous DNA end-joining （NHEJ） pathway were readily detected in Jurkat. Characteristics of junctional diversity of Dβ2-Jβ2 signal joints and ds RSS breaks associated with the Dβ2 5＇ and Dβ 2 3＇ sites were detected in DNA from Jurkat cells. CDR3 size and the gene sequences of the TCRVβ chain did not change during cell proliferation. Conclusions RAG1 and RAG2 and ongoing TCR gene recombination are coexpressed in Jurkat cells, but the ongoing recombination process may not play a role in modification of the TCR repertoire.However, the results suggest that Jurkat could be used as a model for studying the regulation of RAGs and V（D）J recombination and as a ＂special＂ model of the coexistence of TCR gene rearrangements and ＂negative＂ receptor revision.     

四川省汉族群体Y染色体DYS19位点的基因组扫描研究

目的对中国四川省汉族代表性人群的DYS19(DNA Y chromosome microsatellite 19)位点进行遗传多态性研究。方法基因组DNA的提取采用传统的酚一氯仿抽提法。DYS19位点的遗传多样性分析采用ABI Prism^TM 310遗传分析仪及扫描分析系统的微卫星基因组扫描分析。结果在四川省汉族群体中共发现拷贝数13～17五种等位基因型,其等位基因频率分布为4．9％,26．2％,47．6％,16．4％,4．9％。经统计学软件分析显示四川省汉族群体总的基因多样性(GD)值为0．6811。结论研究结果证实四川省汉族群体内部呈现非常显著的遗传异质性,探讨中国不同人群间遗传变异的分布特征和追溯各人群间遗传进化的关系奠定基础。