[Expression and clonal proliferation of TCR Vbeta subfamilies of peripheral T-cells in acute myeloid leukemia patients]

This study was purposed to investigate the expression and clonal proliferation of receptor (TCR) Vbeta subfamilies of the T-cells in acute leukemic patients at different disease status (onset, complete remission or relapse) and to analyze the influence of the leukemic cell load on anti-leukemic effect of peripheral T-lymphocytes of the patients. Gene sequences of peripheral TCR Vbeta 24 families from 11 leukemic patients and 3 normal donors were expanded by RT-PCR. Genescan technique was applied to evaluate clonal expression of the TCRVbeta subfamilies, clonal characteristics of the CDR3 from peripheral blood of AML patients at different disease status. The application, clonal proliferation, cellular complexity of T-cells, and the variation of immunotypes of T-cells were compared. The results indicated that the lower and partial distribution of TCR Vbeta subfamily was found in all 11 patients when firstly diagnosed; the expression of TCR Vbeta subfamilies after induction in vitro increased; obvious elevation of TCR Vbeta subfamilies was observed in patients at complete remission although expression level was still lower than normal, whereas the significant descent of TCR Vbeta subfamilies was detected in 4 relapsed patients. Only 1 - 2 clonal proliferation of TCR Vbeta subfamilies existed in 9 out of 11 patients at initial diagnosis which increased at remission. The status of clonal proliferation of Vbeta subfamily T-cells continued regardless of any different disease status in most patients. There was an obvious decrease of CDR3 complexity at initial diagnosis or relapse, while CDR3 complexity would be partially improved at remission. It is concluded that the restrict distribution and expression of TCR Vbeta subfamilies were found in AML patients. Clonal proliferation of T-cells Vbeta subfamily continuously exists regardless of any different disease status in most patients. Some Vbeta subfamilies sustain clonal proliferation at different disease status. Some clonal proliferations of Vbeta subfamilies are associated with the effects of leukemic cells, CDR3 complexity obviously decreases under disease status which can be partially improved at remission.