IgH DJ rearrangements within T-ALL correlate with cCD79a expression, an immature/TCRgammadelta phenotype and absence of IL7Ralpha/CD127 expression

Leukemia. 2004 Dec;18(12):1997-2001. doi: 10.1038/sj.leu.2403531.

Abstract

cCD79a and IgH VDJ/DJ rearrangements are considered to be relatively specific for B lymphoid precursors. We looked for both in cCD3+, CD7+, CD19- T-ALLs classified by TCR status into alphabeta or gammadelta/immature (IM) lineages, with individualization of HOX11L2+ T-ALLs since they represent an intermediate alphabeta/gammadelta category. cCD79a was expressed at low levels in 47% of T-ALL and was most frequent in IMgamma T-ALLs. IgH rearrangements were common in gammadelta/IM (45%) and HOX11L2+ (35%) T-ALLs compared to HOX11L2-negative cases (3%; P<0.001). CD127 (IL7Ralpha) expression was also more common in the gammadelta/IM lineage but its expression was virtually mutually exclusive of IgH rearrangement. Low-level cCD79a expression alone should therefore not be interpreted as evidence of B lineage affiliation in immature leukemias. gammadelta/IM lineage T-ALLs potentially include two distinct categories: predominantly IgH+, cCD79a+, CD127- cases which retain gammadelta and B lymphoid potential and IgH-, cCD79a-, CD127+ cases with restricted T lineage potential.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antigens, CD / metabolism*
  • CD79 Antigens
  • Cell Lineage
  • Gene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte
  • Gene Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte
  • Gene Rearrangement, delta-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / genetics*
  • Immunoglobulin J-Chains / genetics*
  • Leukemia-Lymphoma, Adult T-Cell / genetics*
  • Leukemia-Lymphoma, Adult T-Cell / metabolism
  • Phenotype
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Interleukin-7 / metabolism*
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • CD79 Antigens
  • CD79A protein, human
  • Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains
  • Immunoglobulin J-Chains
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta
  • Receptors, Interleukin-7