ISSN:
1432-0584
Keywords:
Key words LGL
;
γδ-T lymphocyte
;
Neutropenia
;
HTLV-I
;
Rheumatoid arthritis
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract We report on an HTLV-I carrier showing clonal proliferation of γδ-T lymphocytes associated with chronic neutropenia and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A 75-year-old Japanese woman had a 20-year history of RA and was found to have neutropenia and lymphocytosis by routine examinations. Her white cell count was 5,800/μl with 89% lymphocytes. The proliferating γδ-lymphocytes did not show the typical morphology of large granular lymphocytes (LGL) and were positive for CD3, TCRδ1, and HLA-DR but negative for CD4, CD8, and δTCS1. Clonally rearranged TCRγ-chain (Jγ) and TCRβ-chain (Cβ1) genes were detected by Southern blot analysis. Clonality of these proliferating γδ-T cells was confirmed by CDR3 size analysis for the TCRδ-chain. Anti-HTLV-I antibody was positive and the pX region of HTLV-I proviral DNA was detected by PCR analysis, but clonal integration of HTLV-I proviral DNA was not detected by Southern blotting analysis. The patient's clinical course has been stable, except for infrequent infectious episodes. The association of HTLV-I/II infection with T-LGL leukemia has been reported by several groups, although most cases exhibit TCRαβ+ type T cells. Analysis of the junctional sequence of TCR on T-LGL leukemia cells may clarify the role of HTLV-I/II infection in clonal T-cell proliferation.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s002770050483
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