Peripheral blood T lymphocytes in patients with monoclonal gammopathies: Expanded subsets as depicted by capacity to bind to autologous monoclonal immunoglobulins or reactivity with anti‐V gene‐restricted antibodies

摘要

Abstract: The presence of T cells binding F(ab‘)2fragments of the idiotypic immunoglobulin was examined by immunofluorescence in peripheral blood of patients with monoclonal gammopathy. In 3 out of 11 tested patients, 1–15 idiotype‐binding T cells of either CD4 or CD8 phenotype were found. In 1 patient both a CD4+and a CD8+idiotype‐binding T‐cell fraction were present. In 1 patient the idiotype‐binding T cells also reacted with a mAb directed against the variable parts of the TCR α or β chains, further indicating a clonal origin at the α/β level. 3 patients had an expanded predominant T‐cell receptor V gene usage based on the reactivity with the limited panel of TCR mAb, but these “clonal” T cells did not bind the idiotype. The study supports the existence of idiotype‐specific T cells in peripheral blood of patients with monoclonal gammopathy. Such cells might have a regulatory role on the monoclonal B‐cell clone and may be an importa