T-Cell Receptor V a Gene Expression of Infiltrating T-Cells in Pancreatic Cancer

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
T lymphocytes play a central role in the immune response to cancer, with specific T-cell reactivity provided by the T-cell receptor (TCR) alphabeta-chain heterodimer. Whereas human pancreatic adenocarcinoma is characterized by a massive infiltration of T lymphocytes, to date no analysis of the TCR Valpha-gene expression of the tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in pancreatic cancer has been performed. Using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) followed by dot blot hybridization, we determined the TCR alpha-chain repertoire at the mRNA level in pancreatic carcinoma and compared our findings with the TCR Valpha repertoire in the normal pancreas and chronic pancreatitis. A heterogeneous lowly restricted TCR Valpha repertoire was observed in pancreatic carcinomas, different from the TCR Valpha repertoire in chronic pancreatitis. Pancreas-infiltrating T cells show a distinct TCR Valpha gene expression profile in normal pancreas, chronic pancreatitis, and pancreatic cancer.