Alteration of the T cell repertoire after bone marrow transplantation

Bone Marrow Transplant. 1994 Jan;13(1):19-26.

Abstract

We investigated T cell receptor (TCR) alpha/beta and gamma/delta repertoire reconstitution after autologous and allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) in humans using 13 monoclonal antibodies directed at constant and variable regions of the TCR. The TCR gamma/delta repertoire was studied kinetically during the first month and then 1 year post-BMT whereas alpha/beta peripheral blood T lymphocytes (PBTL) were studied within the first 3 months and 1 year post-BMT. Through these two studies, we found 7 of 26 patients with over-represented TCR gamma/delta subsets during the early period post-BMT. Moreover, during this period the V gamma 9V delta 2 frequency among gamma/delta T cells was found to be higher than among normal donors. Study on TCR alpha/beta T cells also revealed abnormally expanded V-specific subset (5 of 10 patients within 3 months following BMT) demonstrating that repertoire alteration early after BMT is a general phenomenon concerning potentially all T cell subsets. More surprisingly, the alpha/beta T cell repertoire was also found to be altered late after BMT (7 of 15 patients after 1 year post-BMT presented one or more overepresented alpha/beta TCR subset). These alterations of TCR combinatorial diversity should be taken into account in understanding the immunological status of patients after BMT.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation / immunology*
  • Child
  • Female
  • Gene Expression
  • Humans
  • Leukemia / genetics
  • Leukemia / immunology
  • Leukemia / surgery
  • Leukocyte Count
  • Lymphoma / genetics
  • Lymphoma / immunology
  • Lymphoma / surgery
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms / genetics
  • Neoplasms / immunology
  • Neoplasms / surgery
  • Phenotype
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / genetics
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / genetics
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*

Substances

  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta