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T-cell receptor Valpha gene expression of infiltrating T cells in pancreatic cancer
F Müller-Ostermeyer1, M Ebert, P Malfertheiner
1Institute of Medical Neurobiology, Dept. of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Infectious Diseases, Otto-von-Guericke-University of Magdeburg, Germany.
Background:
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.
Methods:
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.
Results:
A heterogeneous lowly restricted TCR Valpha repertoire was observed in pancreatic carcinomas, different from the TCR Valpha repertoire in chronic pancreatitis.
Conclusions:
Pancreas-infiltrating T cells show a distinct TCR Valpha gene expression profile in normal pancreas, chronic pancreatitis, and pancreatic cancer.