The Feature of Distribution and Clonality of TCR γ/δ Subfamilies T Cells in Patients with B-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

摘要

Restricted T-cell receptor (TCR) V α /V β repertoire expression and clonal expansion of αβ T cells especially for putative tumor-associated antigens were observed in patients with hematological malignancies. To further characterize the γδ T-cell immune status in B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL), we investigated the distribution and clonality of TCR V γ /V δ repertoire in peripheral blood (PB), bone marrow (BM), and lymph node (LN) from patients with B-NHL. Four newly diagnosed B-NHL cases, including three with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and one with small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), were enrolled. The restrictive expression of TCR V γ /V δ subfamilies with different distribution patterns could be detected in PB, BM, or LN from all of four patients, and partial subfamily T cells showed clonal proliferation. At least one clonally expanded V δ subfamily member was found in PB from each patient. However, the expression pattern and clonality of TCR V γ /V δ changed in different immune organs and showed individual feature in different patients. The clonally expanded V δ 5, V δ 6, and V δ 8 were detected only in PB but neither in BM nor LN while clonally expanded V δ 2 and V δ 3 could be detected in both PB and BM/LN. In conclusion, the results provide a preliminary profile of distribution and clonality of TCR γ / δ subfamilies T cells in PB, BM, and LN from B-NHL; similar clonally expanded V δ subfamily T cells in PB and BM may be related to the same B-cell lymphoma-associated antigens, while the different reactive clonally expanded V γ /V δ T cells may be due to local immune response.