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VDJ-Seq: Deep Sequencing Analysis of Rearranged Immunoglobulin Heavy Chain Gene to Reveal Clonal Evolution Patterns of B Cell Lymphoma
Published on: December 28, 2015
Phenotypic analysis of hairy cell leukemia: "variant" cases express the interleukin-2 receptor beta chain, but not
D de Totero1, P L Tazzari, F Lauria
1Instituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genova, Italy.
Insights
Classic hairy cell leukemia (HCL) expresses the interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor alpha chain, while both classic and variant HCL express the beta chain. This suggests differential IL-2 receptor chain expression in B-cell differentiation.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Hematology
- Oncology
Background:
- Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is a B-cell neoplasm.
- Classic HCL strongly expresses CD25 (interleukin-2 [IL-2] receptor alpha chain).
- Variant HCL lacks CD25 but IL-2 receptor beta chain (p75) expression is not well-characterized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression of IL-2 receptor alpha and beta chains in classic and variant HCL.
- To compare IL-2 receptor expression in HCL with other B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cases and normal B cells.
Main Methods:
- Immunofluorescence and mRNA analysis were used.
- Assessed IL-2 receptor alpha (CD25) and beta (p75) chain expression.
- Studied 12 classic HCL, 3 variant HCL, 15 CLL cases, and normal B cells.
Main Results:
- Classic HCL expressed the IL-2 receptor alpha chain.
- Both classic and variant HCL expressed the IL-2 receptor beta chain (p75).
- Normal B cells and CLL cases showed weak p75 expression, unlike hairy cells.
Conclusions:
- IL-2 receptor alpha chain expression is specific to classic HCL.
- IL-2 receptor beta chain (p75) is expressed on both classic and variant HCL.
- Differential IL-2 receptor chain expression may reflect B-cell activation and differentiation stages.
Abstract:
Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is a B-cell chronic lymphoproliferative disorder in which the pathologic cells show a strong expression of CD25 (interleukin-2 [IL-2] receptor alpha chain or p55). "Variant" cases of HCL, characterized by hyperleukocytosis, neoplastic elements with a prominent nucleolus and a higher nucleo/cytoplasmic ratio, and an easily obtained bone marrow aspirate, lack surface CD25 determinants. Limited information is available on the expression of the IL-2 receptor beta chain (p75) on normal and neoplastic B cells. In this study, we have assessed by immunofluorescence and mRNA analysis the presence of the IL-2 receptor alpha and beta chains on 12 cases of classic HCL, as well as on 3 variant cases. The results obtained show that, while the alpha chain of the IL-2 receptor is present only on classic HCL, the IL-2 receptor beta chain (p75) is expressed on both the classic and variant form. Unlike hairy cells, only 8 of the 15 B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia cases tested showed a weak expression of the p75 antigen on a small proportion of cells. Purified B lymphocytes from normal healthy controls, as well as Epstein-Barr virus-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines, showed a weak staining for the p75 determinant, while being CD25-. The results of this study suggest that the expression of the alpha and beta chains of the IL-2 receptor appears to be upregulated or downregulated during the process of B-cell-lineage activation and differentiation.
