Monoclonal TCR-Vbeta13.1+/CD4+/NKa+/CD8-/+dim T-LGL lymphocytosis: evidence for an antigen-driven chronic T-cell stimulation origin

Blood. 2007 Jun 1;109(11):4890-8. doi: 10.1182/blood-2006-05-022277. Epub 2007 Feb 15.

Abstract

Monoclonal TCRalphabeta(+)/CD4+ T-large granular lymphocyte (T-LGL) lymphocytosis is a T-cell disorder with a restricted TCR-Vbeta repertoire. In the present study we explored the potential association between the expanded TCR-Vbeta families, the CDR3 sequences of the TCR-Vbeta gene, and the HLA genotype of patients with monoclonal TCRalphabeta(+)/CD4+ T-LGL lymphocytosis. For that purpose, 36 patients with monoclonal TCRalphabeta(+)/CD4+ T-LGL lymphocytosis (15 TCR-Vbeta13.1 versus 21 non-TCR-Vbeta13.1) were selected. For each patient, both the HLA (class I and II) genotype and the DNA sequences of the VDJ-rearranged TCR-Vbeta were analyzed. Our results show a clear association between the TCR-Vbeta repertoire and the HLA genotype, all TCR-Vbeta13.1(+) cases being HLA-DRB1*0701 (P = .004). Interestingly, the HLA-DR7/TCR-Vbeta13.1-restricted T-cell expansions displayed a highly homogeneous and strikingly similar TCR arising from the use of common TCR-Vbeta gene segments, which shared (1) unique CDR3 structural features with a constantly short length, (2) similar combinatorial gene rearrangements with frequent usage of the Jbeta1.1 gene, and (3) a homolog consensus protein sequence at recombination junctions. Overall, these findings strongly support the existence of a common antigen-driven origin for monoclonal CD4+ T-LGL lymphocytosis, with the identification of the exact peptides presented to the expanded T cells deserving further investigations.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / chemistry
  • CD4 Antigens / biosynthesis*
  • CD8 Antigens / biosynthesis*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lymphocytosis / immunology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Peptide Fragments / chemistry*
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / metabolism
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / chemistry*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • CD4 Antigens
  • CD8 Antigens
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta