Discordance between surface and cytoplasmic expression of the Leu-4 (T3) antigen in thymocytes and in blast cells from childhood T lymphoblastic malignancies

Acute Leukemias of Ambiguous Lineage: Clarification on Lineage Specificity

Acute leukemias of ambiguous lineage (ALAL) include acute undifferentiated leukemia and mixed-phenotype acute leukemia (MPAL). This article provides an overview of the diagnosis of ALAL and focuses on the data accounting for the current lineage-assignment criteria for blasts harboring more than one lineage-associated marker. In addition, the currently known molecular data are reviewed, which show that MPAL-associated gene mutations, methylation signatures, and expression profiles are a mixture of those seen in both acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Finally, the prognosis and current treatments of MPAL are briefly discussed.

Immunophenotyping of leukemia

Modern immunophenotyping of hematological malignancies by flow cytometry is assisted by a wide array of easily accessible monoclonal antibodies, by antibodies conjugated to diverse fluorochromes, and by reliable techniques for cell membrane permeabilization. Simultaneous assessment of multiple surface and intracellular markers at diagnosis reduces the number of cells required, helps the identification of the malignant cells and determines the degree of immunophenotypic heterogeneity of the malignant cell population. A few critical markers are sufficient to establish the lineage association in the majority of cases of acute and chronic leukemias and lymphomas. More extensive immunophenotyping can provide information about the cells' stage of differentiation, assess the expression of prognostically important features, and determine clonality. The identification of leukemia-associated immunophenotypes can be used for monitoring minimal residual disease during therapy. The presence of cells expressing these phenotypes in patients who are in clinical remission is associated with an increased risk of relapse.

Immunological study on CD3 defective cutaneous T cell lymphoma cells from a patient with Sézary syndrome

Here we investigated the nature of cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL) cells lacking surface CD3. A large number of CD3- CD4 T cells were found in the peripheral blood and lesional skin of a patient with Sézary syndrome, which is a variant of CTCL. Southern blot analysis revealed that a clonal rearrangement of T cell receptor (TCR) genes was detected in the separated CD3- CD4 cells, whereas CD3+ CD4 cells showed no clonal rearrangement, indicating that the CD3- CD4 cells represented CTCL cells. However, the CTCL cells expressed TCR with a particular Vbeta apart from CD3. The CTCL cells showed significant responses to staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) in vitro, although they hardly responded to phytohaemagglutinin, Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen, and alloantigen. They required antigen-presenting cells (APC) to respond to SEB. Blocking analyses with MoAbs revealed that they recognized SEB through TCR depending on HLA-DR and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). Taken collectively, these results indicate that the CTCL cells lacking surface CD3 could proliferate in response to bacterial superantigens, whereas the responses to conventional antigens were generally suppressed. These results also implied that CTCL could be exacerbated by bacterial infection.

Sequence analysis of rat integrin alpha E1 and alpha E2 subunits: tissue expression reveals phenotypic similarities between intraepithelial lymphocytes and dendritic cells in lymph

The integrin alpha OX-62 subunit is defined by the OX-62 monoclonal antibody that was raised against rat dendritic cells in lymph (veiled cells) and shows properties similar to those of human alpha E2 that is predominantly expressed on intraepithelial lymphocytes. To clone alpha OX-62, rat probes generated using primers specific for the human alpha E sequence were used to screen rat T cell cDNA libraries. cDNA clones encoding two similar but not identical alpha subunits that are closely related to but distinct from human alpha E were isolated. alpha E1 is predicted to be the rat homolog of mouse alpha M290 and alpha E2 corresponds to rat alpha OX-62. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed that mouse alpha E1 and rat alpha E2 are expressed in dendritic epidermal T cells in the skin, intraepithelial lymphocytes in the small intestine and in cells with a dendritic morphology present at sites where gamma delta T cells occur in lymphoid organs. Unexpectedly, alpha E2 is co-expressed with intracellular CD3-delta and a 33-kDa CD3 chain but not the T cell receptor in veiled cells. These findings suggest that veiled cells may be derived from a lymphoid precursor. Furthermore, veiled cells show phenotypic similarities to intraepithelial lymphocytes.

Monoclonal antibodies in the management of acute leukemia

This report reviews the diagnostic significance of immune markers, their relationship to patient outcome, and the therapeutic uses of monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) in acute leukemia. Immunophenotyping allows for rapid and reproducible diagnosis in the majority of cases of acute leukemia. It is of particular importance in recognizing the major immunologic subclasses of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and in identifying subtypes of acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) which cannot be differentiated by morphology and cytochemistry alone, such as FAB M0 or M7. Immune marker analysis has been used to detect minimal residual disease in patients' bone marrow and CSF after treatment. However, the presence of leukemia-associated phenotypes on small numbers of normal cells may reduce the sensitivity of detection in some cases. The prognostic value of immune markers in AML is limited. In ALL, the prognostic significance of the different immunophenotypic subtypes has been lessened by modern treatment protocols. The relationship of mixed-lineage or biphenotypic antigen expression to patient outcome in both AML and ALL is unclear. Therapeutic applications of MoAbs in acute leukemia include immunologic techniques for purging malignant cells from autografts prior to transplantation, T-lymphocyte depletion from allografts as a strategy to reduce graft-versus-host disease, and the use of flow cytometry to monitor the timing and extent of leukapheresis in peripheral stem cell transplantation. MoAbs have also enabled the recent development of transplantation protocols using positively-selected CD34+ stem cells.

Cytoplasmic expression of the leu-4 (CD3) antigen in developing Purkinje cells in the rat cerebellum

Although commonly known to represent a T cell receptor (CD3) associated polypeptide, the leu-4 (CD3) antigen occurs in cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs) of many species. The monoclonal pan T lymphocyte marker anti-leu-4 (CD3) recognizes both the lymphocytic and the Purkinje cell type of this antigen [22]. To obtain more information about the merit of anti-leu-4 (CD3) as an investigational tool, we evaluated the expression of leu-4 (CD3) in PCs of the developing rat cerebellum (in situ) by light microscopy. Positive anti-leu-4 (CD3) immunoreaction of PCs did not occur prior to post-natal day (D) 4. The analysis of immunostaining during cell differentiation revealed three major phases of post-natal PC maturation including antigenic development of cell somata (phase 1: until D6), dendrites (phase 2: D7-D11), and axons (phase 3: D12-D14). A massive post-weaning expansion of the dendritic arborization led then to the mature PC architecture. Additionally, the leu-4 (CD3) antigen was observed in ectopic PC dendrites (D10) and in ectopic (mature) PCs. Throughout post-natal development as well as in mature PCs, the leu-4 (CD3) antigen was found to be cytoplasmic. Due to its labile nature, neither an ultrastructural localization nor molecular characterization could be achieved. For the same reason, its application is basically restricted to cryo-fixed cerebellar tissue. However, at the level of light microscopy, the monoclonal human T cell marker anti-leu-4 (CD3) proved to be a useful tool for specific and sensitive labelling of differentiated cerebellar PCs in the rat.

Regressing atypical histiocytosis, a regressing cutaneous phase of Ki-1-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma. Immunocytochemical, nucleic acid, and cytogenetic studies of a new case in view of current opinion

BACKGROUND

Regressing atypical histiocytosis is a rare multifocal cutaneous tumor characterized by large, spontaneously regressing, ulcerating skin nodules. Although initially self-remitting, the condition may progress to systemic lymphoma.

METHODS

Using material from one patient, an attempt was made to clarify the nature of this condition with immunophenotyping, genotyping, and chromosome studies.

RESULTS

Immunophenotyping studies indicated the condition was of T-cell lineage, although T-cell receptor gene studies showed polyclonal rearrangement. This case progressed to systemic lymphoma.

CONCLUSIONS

The authors believe regressing atypical histiocytosis is a regressing phase of Ki-1-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma of the skin.

Karyotype and T-cell receptor expression in T-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia

The relationship between karyotype and expression of the T-cell receptor (TCR) proteins was examined in 19 patients with T-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). All patients expressed CD3 molecules in the cytoplasm or on the cell membrane. Patients were classified according to TCR expression thus: no TCR expression (TCR-), six cases; cytoplasmic expression of TCR beta chain (cTCRB) only, six cases; membrane expression of TCR alpha and beta chains (mTCRAB), five cases; membrane expression of TCR gamma and delta (mTCRGD), two cases. A chromosomally abnormal clone was detected in 15 cases. The most common site of chromosomal change was at 14q11 (seven cases), the chromosomal band to which TCRA and TCRD have been mapped; as a deletion (two cases); or as a translocation with reciprocal breakpoints in bands containing the TCRG (7p15); TCRB (7q35); or putative oncogenes HOXII (10q24), RBTN2 (11p13) or MYC (8q24) genes. Breakpoints were also seen in 6q (three cases), 9p (two cases), or 11q23 (two cases). The following observations were made: All four chromosomally normal cases lacked TCR expression (TCR-). Breakpoints at 14q11 were found in one of six TCR- cases, four of six cTCRB cases, and two of five mTCRAB cases. Abnormalities of 6q and of 9p were seen only in cases with full TCR expression (mTCRAB or mTCRGD).

Immune markers in hematologic malignancies

The precise delineation of biologic traits that distinguish normal hematopoietic cells from their malignant counterparts is of fundamental importance in understanding all aspects of hematologic malignancies. An increasingly sophisticated technologic battery has been utilized to dissect out these differences--primarily utilization of monoclonal antibodies, by immunoperoxidase, immunoalkaline phosphatase and flow cytometric techniques. An even more basic understanding of normal and malignant hematopoietic cells has begun to evolve as molecular biology begins to unravel gene misprogramming by Southern and Northern blot analysis and the polymerase chain reaction. These techniques not only help distinguish a normal cell from a malignant one, but characterize the malignant clone as B-lymphoid, T-lymphoid or myeloid and allow further subcategorization within these broad lineages. These distinctions are vital to the entire spectrum of basic and clinical research involving hematologic malignancies and are assuming an increasingly important role in their diagnosis, prognosis and treatment.

T-cell receptor gene rearrangements and the diagnosis of human T-cell neoplasms

The rearranging antigen receptor genes of lymphoid cells serve as unique clonal markers of lymphoid neoplasms. Gene rearrangement analysis is a highly sensitive and reproducible tool which is useful in the diagnosis and classification of malignant lymphoma/leukemia. Although clonality can often be determined among B cell neoplasms by virtue of immunoglobulin isotype analysis, no such phenotypic marker of clonality exists for T cells. Therefore, clonality of T lymphoproliferative processes is most readily determined by rearrangement analysis of the T cell antigen receptor genes. The alpha, beta, gamma, and delta genes of the T cell receptor gene family encode heterodimeric surface antigen receptors and undergo rearrangement early in T cell differentiation. Identification of rearrangement of T cell antigen receptor genes provides valuable diagnostic information concerning cellular lineage, clonality and classification of T cell neoplasms. This molecular approach is applicable to the diagnosis of occult disease, relapse, and resolution of diagnostic dilemmas in any type of tissue sample including fluids and needle aspirations.

Molecular interactions, T-cell subsets and a role of the CD4/CD8:p56lck complex in human T-cell activation

Several T-cell structures are capable of generating intracellular signals linked to T-cell proliferation. Crosslinking of CD2, CD4 and CD45 with Ti/CD3 to several of these antigens can augment the minimal signal induced by antigen binding to the Ti/CD3 complex. Importantly, some of these regulatory structures (CD4, CD8 and CD45) are also expressed on subsets of T cells with distinct activation requirements and functional programs (helper, suppressor, suppressor-inducer and cytotoxic function). The CD4+ CD45RA+ (2H4+) subset responds well to self-Ia, poorly to soluble antigen and possesses suppressor-inducer function. A reciprocal subset CD4+ CD45RA- (4B4+) is preferentially activated by soluble recall antigens and possesses helper function. Each of these subsets can be distinguished by virtue of the differential expression of CD45 antigens. Importantly, the anti-2H4 antibody which reacts with a specific region near the N-terminus of two CD45 isoforms can effectively block its function. Crosslinking of CD4 with the Ti/CD3 complex preferentially activated the CD4+ CD45+ RA- subset, while soluble antibodies to CD2 preferentially affected the CD45 CD45RA+ subset. Thus, CD3 and CD4 more effectively synergize in the activation process on the CD4+ CD45RA- subset, a result consistent with the ability of this subpopulation to respond to recall antigens. The regulatory role of the CD4, CD8 and CD45 antigens may be mediated by an interactive network of protein-tyrosine phosphorylation and dephosphorylation. We have shown the CD4 and CD8 antigens to be associated with the T cell-specific protein-tyrosine kinase (p56lck). p56lck is a member of a family of protein-tyrosine kinases with an established ability to activate and transform mammalian cells. The CD4/CD8:p56lck complex is catalytically active as shown by its ability to phosphorylate various members of the Ti/CD3 complex. By contrast, the CD45 antigens possess protein-tyrosine phosphatase activity within their intracellular domains and are postulated to function by virtue of a regulatory interaction with CD4/CD8:p56lck and its potential substrates. Thus, the differences in the response of the CD4+ CD45RA+/- subsets to various stimuli and the expansion of T-cell subsets with distinct immunoregulatory programs may be governed by a pathway of tyrosine-mediated events.

A functionally unique anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody cross-reactive with basal keratinocytes

Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) 147, 446, and 454 each recognize different epitopes of CD3. The CD3 epitope recognized by mAb 446 is functionally unique for the T cell. In contrast to mAb 147 and 454, mAb 446 induces modulation of surface CD3 with delayed kinetics and, hence, is impaired in inducing a refractory state in the T cell to subsequent anti-CD3-induced helper function. MAb 446 (but not other anti-CD3 mAb, including mAb 147, 454, OKT3, and anti-Leu4) recognizes a cytoplasmic determinant within basal keratinocytes. Extraction of keratinocytes with nonionic detergent and 2 M NaCl abolished subsequent staining with mAb 446 but enhanced subsequent staining with anti-keratin mAb, suggesting that this cross-reactive determinant is not keratin. Immunoprecipitation of internally labeled keratinocytes with the anti-CD3 mAb 147 and 446 failed to reveal specific bands, whereas these same mAb immunoprecipitated specific bands from internally labeled CD3+ Jurkat cells corresponding to previously identified CD3 subunits, suggesting that the cross-reactive determinant in keratinocytes is also not CD3. The cross-reactivity is not species specific, in that mAb 446 stained a mouse keratinocyte line, nor is it absolutely keratinocyte specific, in that mAb 446 stained one of the two nonkeratinocyte human epithelial cell lines tested. This study raises the possibility that perturbation of unique CD3 epitopes may have unique effects on T cell surface events and subsequent activation and function.

Developmental biology of T cell receptors

T cell receptors are the antigen-recognizing elements found on the effector cells of the immune system. Two isotypes have been discovered, TCR-gamma delta and TCR-alpha beta, which appear in that order during ontogeny. The maturation of prothymocytes that colonize the thymic rudiment at defined gestational stages occurs principally within the thymus, although some evidence for extrathymic maturation also exists. The maturation process includes the rearrangement and expression of the T cell receptor genes. Determination of these mechanisms, the lineages of the cells, and the subsequent thymic selection that results in self-tolerance is the central problem in developmental immunology and is important for the understanding of autoimmune diseases.

The CD4 and CD8 antigens are coupled to a protein-tyrosine kinase (p56lck) that phosphorylates the CD3 complex

Many mammalian receptors have been found to regulate cell growth by virtue of a protein-tyrosine kinase domain in their cytoplasmic tail. We recently described an association of the CD4 antigen with a T-cell-specific protein-tyrosine kinase (p56lck; formerly termed pp58lck; EC 2.7.1.112). This interaction represents a potential mechanism by which T-cell growth may be regulated and offers a model by which other members of the src family (products of c-src, c-yes, c-fgr, etc.) may interact with mammalian growth factor receptors. As in the case of the CD4 antigen, the CD8 antigen appears to serve as a receptor for nonpolymorphic regions of products of the major histocompatibility complex and has been implicated in the regulation of T-cell growth. In this study, we reveal that the human CD8 antigen is also associated with the T-cell-specific protein-tyrosine kinase (p56lck). The associated p56lck kinase was detected by use of both in vitro and in vivo labeling regimes using an antiserum to the C terminus of p56lck. Two-dimensional nonequilibrium pH-gradient gel electrophoresis and sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis demonstrated the similarity of p56lck to the protein-tyrosine kinase associated with the CD4 antigen. The catalytic activity of p56lck was revealed by the autophosphorylation of the 55- to 60-kDa kinase and the occasional labeling of a 35-kDa protein. Last, we demonstrate directly that members of the CD3 complex, including the gamma, delta, and epsilon chains, as well as a putative zeta subunit, can be phosphorylated at tyrosine residues by the CD4/CD8.p56lck complex.

Immunophenotypic and antigen receptor gene rearrangement analysis in T cell neoplasia

The author reviews the immunophenotypic profiles displayed by the major clinicopathologic categories of T cell neoplasia, the immunophenotypic criteria useful in the immunodiagnosis of T cell neoplasia, and the contributions made by antigen receptor gene rearrangement analysis to the understanding of T cell neoplasia. Neoplasms belonging to distinct clinicopathologic categories of T cell neoplasia often exhibit characteristic immunophenotypic profiles. Approximately 80% of lymphoblastic lymphomas and 20% of acute lymphoblastic leukemias express phenotypes consistent with prethymic and intrathymic stages of T cell differentiation, including intranuclear terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase. Cutaneous T cell lymphomas of mycosis fungoides type usually express pan-T cell antigens CD2, CD5, and CD3, often lack the pan-T cell antigen CD7, and usually express the mature, peripheral helper subset phenotype, CD4+ CD8-. Cutaneous T cell lymphomas of nonmycosis fungoides type and peripheral T cell lymphomas often lack one or more pan-T cell antigens and, in addition, occasionally express the anomalous CD4+ CD8+ or CD4- CD8- phenotypes. T gamma-lymphoproliferative disease is divisable into two broad categories: those cases that are CD3 antigen positive and exhibit clonal T cell receptor beta chain (TCR-beta) gene rearrangements and those cases that are CD3 antigen negative and exhibit the TCR-beta gene germline configuration. Human T cell lymphotropic virus-I (HTLV-I) associated Japanese, Carribean, and sporadic adult T cell leukemia/lymphomas usually express pan-T cell antigens, the CD4+ CD8- phenotype, and various T cell-associated activation antigens, including the interleukin-2 receptor (CD25). Immunophenotypic criteria useful in the immunodiagnosis of T cell neoplasia include, in increasing order of utility, T cell predominance, T cell subset antigen restriction, anomalous T cell subset antigen expression, and deletion of one or more pan-T cell antigens. Only in exceptional circumstances do normal, non-neoplastic T cell populations express the CD4- CD8- or the CD4+ CD8+ phenotype and/or lack one or more pan-T cell antigens. T cell receptor beta chain gene rearrangement analysis represents an accurate, objective, and sensitive molecular genetic marker of T cell lineage and clonality that allows discrimination among non-T cell, polyclonal T cell and monoclonal T cell populations. Non-T cells exhibit the TCR-beta gene germline configuration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Histological and immunohistological analysis of human lymphomas

Morphological and immunological characteristics of lymphoproliferative diseases are reviewed. In particular, a basic distinction is made between non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and Hodgkin's disease. As to the non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, emphasis is given to the problems of classification, technical approach, histogenesis, and prognosis. The authors adopt a version of the Kiel Classification modified to take account of new knowledge regarding T-cell lymphomas. The value of immunophenotyping in making an accurate distinction between the various categories is stressed; immunocytochemical detection of the growth fraction is also discussed and then proposed as a new prognostic tool. Finally, the criteria for differential diagnosis between non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, malignant histiocytosis, non-lymphoid large cell tumors, and atypical immune reactions are outlined.

Routine immunophenotyping of acute leukaemias

Recent progress in immunophenotyping includes the availability of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), knowledge of specificity and reactivity patterns of these reagents, and the technical improvements and standardization of immunofluorescence and immunocytology staining procedures, including flow cytometry. These advances have contributed significantly to the establishment of immunophenotyping as an essential diagnostic tool in the differential diagnosis of types of acute leukaemia. Immunophenotyping allows for the objective and reproducible distinction of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) from acute myeloblastic leukaemia (AML) and of T-lineage from B-lineage ALL. Immunologically defined ALL and AML subtypes have been found to convey prognostic significance. Using cell lineage-specific and differentiation stage-specific MAbs, cases of T- and B-lineage ALL and of AML can be further classified into a number of different subtypes. Routine immunophenotyping concentrates on the diagnostic enquiry into a few major, clinically relevant subtypes; only a limited number of crucial reagents are employed that are commercially available. The simplification and standardization of discriminatory immunomarker panels make immunophenotyping a reliable diagnostic instrument for the provision of critical data to make a differential diagnosis. An effort to identify the nature and origin of the blast cells precisely, immunological typing definitely plays an important part in the multiple-marker analysis of acute leukaemia (morphology, cytochemistry, karyotyping, genotyping) for applied diagnostic and fundamental research purposes.

T-cell receptor antibodies in the immunohistochemical studies of normal and malignant lymphoid cells

Three anti-T Cell receptor (TCR) antibodies, BF1, BF2, and WT31 were studied for their specificity and usefulness as immunohistochemical reagents. These antibodies were all satisfactory in the staining of normal peripheral lymphoid tissues and cortical thymic lymphocytes were reactive with BF1 and BF2 but not with WT31. Hassall's corpuscles in two of three thymuses studied reacted with all three antibodies. BF1 was superior to the other two antibodies, especially for lymphoid cells in cytospin preparations. Fifty-five lymphomas, 24 nonlymphoid malignancies, seven established cell lines, and five cases of large granular lymphocyte (LGL) proliferation with neutropenia were studied. The majority of non-T-cell lesions did not react with the antibodies. An occasional case showed weak reactivity which could be easily distinguished from the usual strong reaction with T-cells. Tumor cells from over 90% of snap frozen peripheral T-cell lymphomas reacted with BF1 and BF2. BF1 was the preferred antibody since it gave a stronger and more consistent reaction. It was also the antibody of choice in identifying T-lymphoblastic lymphomas. Michel's solution fixed tissue showed markedly diminished or absent reactivity with BF2 and WT31, but BF1 reactivity was less affected. Some unusual T-cell phenotypes, with respect to the pattern of expression of BF1 antigen and CD3, were observed. BF1 and anti-CD3, in combination, would be useful in identifying T-cell lesions with aberrant or unusual TCR-CD3 phenotypes.

Application of a T cell receptor antibody beta F1 for immunophenotypic analysis of malignant lymphomas

One hundred sixty-five non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (101 B, 63 T, one histiocytic) were immunostained with an antibody (beta F1) reactive with a common framework determinant on the beta-subunit of the T cell receptor (TCR). beta F1 stained T lymphomas exclusively, including 53% of peripheral T cell lymphomas but only 33% of T lymphoblastic lymphomas. When expression of beta F1 and CD3 were considered together, 4 types of T lymphoma were delineated: 1) beta F1+CD3+; 2) beta F1+CD3-; 3) beta F1-CD3+, and 4) beta F1-CD3-. The first represented lymphomas with classical T immunophenotype. The second might represent T lymphomas with aberrant loss of CD3 expression. The third might represent T lymphomas with a putative second TCR or cases with an immature phenotype expressing cytoplasmic CD3 only. The fourth type included cases that may be derived from natural killer cells instead of T cells, cases of T lymphoma with aberrant loss of both beta F1 and CD3, and some cases of immature T cell (lymphoblastic) lymphoma. beta F1-CD3- lymphomas exhibited a remarkable predilection for the nasal region. beta F1 is useful in studying T cell lymphomas and distinguishing a novel immunophenotype frequently expressed by nasal lymphomas.

Antisera against epitopes resistant to denaturation on T3 (CD3) antigen can detect reactive and neoplastic T cells in paraffin embedded tissue biopsy specimens

Polyclonal rat antisera, raised against affinity purified CD3 antigen, gave strong immunoenzymatic labelling of T cells in routine paraffin embedded sections, with negligible background staining. The specificity of these reactions was confirmed by staining biopsy specimens from 21 previously phenotyped non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (including 14 of T cell origin and six of B cell origin). It is suggested that the ability of the polyclonal anti-CD3 antisera to detect T cells in paraffin sections is due to the presence in these sera of antibodies against fixation resistant epitopes on CD3 antigen, and that immunisation with purified denatured preparations of other white cell associated antigens may broaden the range of antibodies suitable for the phenotypic analysis of leucocytes in routine histological samples.

Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate induces surface expression of T3 on human immature T cell lines with and without concomitant expression of the T cell antigen receptor complex

The T3 complex is known to be expressed on the cell surface of mature T cells together with either the alpha-beta heterodimeric T cell receptor (TCR) or the TCR gamma protein. In a number of immature T cell malignancies, however, T3 has been described exclusively in the cytoplasm. We have investigated five such T cell lines with cytoplasmic T3 and could demonstrate by biosynthetic labeling the presence of the alpha and beta chains of the TCR in the cytoplasm of two of them, CEM and Ichikawa. No surface TCR alpha-beta protein could be detected by staining with the WT31 antibody. These observations, therefore, argue against the concept that expression of the TCR alpha chain controls the surface expression of the T3/TCR complex. Interestingly, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) induced cell surface expression of T3 protein in these two cell lines only. Moreover, on surface-iodinated CEM cells no association of T3 and TCR molecules could be demonstrated after treatment with PMA, and expression of TCR alpha and beta chains was limited to the cytoplasm. In Ichikawa cells, however, PMA induced surface expression of a mature T3/TCR complex. Our findings indicate that separate regulatory mechanisms may exist for the surface expression of the T3 proteins and for the assembly of the T3/TCR complex.

Building a multichain receptor: synthesis, degradation, and assembly of the T-cell antigen receptor

The murine T-cell antigen receptor consists of at least seven chains and six different proteins. The two clonotypic chains alpha and beta are glycoproteins of 40-45 kDa present as a disulfide-linked heterodimer. Four clonally invariant chains include delta (a 26-kDa glycoprotein), gamma (a 21-kDa glycoprotein), epsilon (a 25-kDa protein), and zeta (a 16-kDa protein). zeta is found in the complex as a disulfide-linked homodimer. The clonotypic chains and the invariant chains form a noncovalent complex on the cell surface. We have developed antibodies against each of the chains and used them to examine the assembly of the mature complex in the murine antigen-specific T-cell hybridoma 2B4. Pulse-chase studies of metabolically labeled cells demonstrate that many of the chains are synthesized in great excess over the amount assembled into the mature complex. These excess chains, either as free components or as partially assembled complexes, are rapidly degraded. This degradation most likely takes place in the lysosomes. The complete complex is quite stable with a long half-life. A specific hierarchy of partially assembled complexes can be discerned.

A t(8;14)(q24;q11) translocation in a T-cell leukemia (L1-ALL) with c-myc and TcR-alpha chain locus rearrangements

Cell lines established from T-cell leukemias have recently been reported to exhibit a chromosome translocation t(8;14) involving proto-oncogene c-myc and the gene of the T-cell receptor alpha-chain(TcR-alpha). In this work, we have studied a case of T-cell leukemia presenting a t(8;14)(q24;q11) translocation that was found in fresh leukemic cells taken during relapse, but was absent in cells collected at diagnosis. Hybridization analysis showed that the breakpoint on chromosome 8 was located 3' to the c-myc exon 3. A TcR-alpha-specific original probe (D14S7, Mathieu-Mahul et al., 1985) revealed two differently rearranged patterns in DNA from leukemic cells obtained at diagnosis and during relapse. In contrast, the rearranged TcR-beta-gene DNA pattern did not change during the course of the disease, indicating that leukemic cells were clonally related. These data indicate that the chromosome breakpoint in 14q11 is situated in the TcR-alpha locus. These results suggest that translocations t(8;14) involving TcR-alpha and c-myc genes in T-cell malignancies are analogous to variant t(2;8) and t(8;22) translocations observed in Burkitt lymphoma. They also establish that the same types of molecular rearrangements due to a t(8;14)(q24;q11) translocation, at first described in T-cell lines established in culture, also exist in vivo and may play a role in the evolution of the leukemic process.

Immunological typing of acute lymphoblastic leukemia: concurrent analysis by flow cytofluorometry and immunocytology

For 60 cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) immunological typing was done concurrently by the avidin-biotin-peroxidase method using cytocentrifuged smears and by flow cytofluorometry for the study of surface antigens. The use of a large panel of antibodies detecting differentiation antigens allowed us to sub-classify 57/60 cases as 43 B-lineage ALLs and 14 T-lineage ALLs. The two types of ALL can be accurately distinguished by the expression of the antigens recognized by the antibodies of the clusters of differentiation CD19 (B4) and CD7 (Leu 9). Almost perfect agreement was obtained between the results of the two methods for antigens DR, CD10 (cALLA;J5) and CD7. A number of discordances were observed with other antigens [CD19 (B4), CD20 (B1), CD22 (To15), CD1 (T6), CD2 (T11), CD4 (T4), CD8 (T8), CD3 (T3), T9, T10]. In spite of these discordances, the avidin-biotin-peroxidase method can predict the lineage involved in most ALLs with a high degree of reliability. Nevertheless, for weakly expressed surface antigens (such as B4 and B1) the immunocytological method is less sensitive than flow cytofluorometry and can only approximately determine the stage of differentiation of neoplastic cells. Furthermore, the existence of cases which are at the same time negative with flow cytofluorometry and positive with immunocytology is consistent with the intracytoplasmic expression of certain differentiation antigens. Thus in the course of lymphoid differentiation, intra-cytoplasmic expression of T3, To15 and possibly J5 precedes their expression at the cell surface.