Objective: To investigate the expression and clonality of TCR V beta subfamily genes in the T cells in polycythemia vera.
Methods: The 24 genes of the TCR V beta subfamily were amplified with peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 3 cases of polycythemia vera(PV) by RT-PCR, then the PCR products were further analyzed by genescan technique to evaluating the clonality of the detectable TCR V beta T cells.
Results: Only 4-14 of the 24 V beta subfamily T cells were found in the 3 PV cases, the commonly expressed V beta subfamily genes were V beta 2, V beta 3, V beta 16, V beta 21 and V beta 23. Two clonal T cells of V beta 3 and V beta 23 were identified in 2 cases.
Conclusions: The skew distribution and clonal expansion of TCR V beta subfamily T cells in patients with polycythemia vera might be a feature of the immune response for malignant cells.