T-cell receptor gene rearrangements as markers of lineage and clonality in T-cell neoplasms.

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Abstract
Ig gene rearrangements represent markers of lineage, clonality and differentiation of B cells, allowing a molecular diagnosis and immunogenotypic classification of B-cell neoplasms. A similar approach was applied to the study of T-cell populations by analyzing rearrangements of the T-cell receptor .beta.-chain (T.beta.) gene. The analysis, by Southern blot hybridization using T.beta.-specific probes of DNA from polyclonal T cells and from 12 T-cell tumors, indicates that T.beta. gene rearrangement patterns can be used as markers of lineage; this allows the identification of polyclonal T-cell populations and clonality, permitting the detection of monoclonal T-cell tumors. T.beta. gene rearrangements may represent early and general markers of T-cell differentiation since they are detectable in histologically different tumors at all stages of T-cell development. The ability to determine lineage, clonality and stage of differentiation has significant implications for future experimental and clinical studies on normal and neoplastic T cells.