Identification of cell surface molecules characterizing human cutaneous T-cell lymphomas

Primary cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL) are a heterogeneous group of malignant mature T-cell proliferations most often presenting as mycosis fungoides (MF) or its leukemic variant, Sezary syndrome (SS). No specific cell surface markers are presently available to distinguish the circulating malignant clone from normal lymphocytes. Using the previously established CTCL cell lines, Cou-LS and Pno, we have detected two leucocyte cell surface antigens with aberrant expression on CTCL cells. The NK-receptor (NKR) p140/KIR3DL2 normally expressed by NK and CD8+ T-cells was detected on the surface of CTCL cell lines as well as on freshly isolated CD4+PBL from SS patients. Further on, p140 marked in situ SS cells, distinguishing them from p140-negative tumor cells of patch plaque MF. SC5 is a newly described activation-related intracellular inhibitory receptor expressed on the surface of a minor PBL subset. We found that SC5 expression was significantly increased in SS cells and correlated to p140 expression. Moreover, cross-linking of SC5 molecules inhibited the malignant cell proliferation induced by anti-CD3 mAbs. The identification of these new structures on circulating SS tumor cells seems to be important both for the understanding of CTCL pathophysiology and for the clinical management of SS patients.