BCL10 down-regulation in peripheral T-cell lymphomas

The BCL10 gene encodes for a T-cell receptor signaling downstream protein involved in nuclear factor κB activation. It is expressed in normal lymphoid tissues and in several B-non Hodgkin lymphomas, its aberrant function being related to the pathogenesis of certain subtypes. Conversely, conflicting data are available concerning BCL10 expression in peripheral T cell lymphomas. We analyzed BCL10 expression in peripheral T cell lymphomas and correlated it with NFκB activation, proliferation, phenotypic aberration, and survival. First, gene expression analysis of 40 peripheral T cell lymphomas (28 peripheral T cell lymphomas/not otherwise specified, 6 anaplastic large cell lymphomas, and 6 angioimmunoblastic lymphomas), 4 reactive lymph nodes, and 20 samples of normal T-lymphocytes, showed significantly lower BCL10 gene expression in all tumors in comparison to normal samples, the lowest values being detected in anaplastic large cell lymphoma. Secondly, we studied the immunohistochemical expression of BCL10 in 52 peripheral T cell lymphomas/not otherwise specified on tissue microarrays. BCL10 was expressed in 10/52 cases (19%), not showing any significant correlation with either expression of Ki-67 and the T-cell markers or NFκB activation. Furthermore, BCL10 expression was not associated with peculiar gene expression profiles. Finally, we did not find significant correlations with progression free survival and overall survival, although a favorable trend was recorded in BCL10(+) cases. In conclusion, BCL10 was commonly down-regulated in peripheral T cell lymphomas, suggest the T-cell receptor signaling cascade for future characterization.