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Patterns of CD16 and CD56 expression in persistent expansions of CD3 + NKa + lymphocytes are predictive for clonal T‐cell receptor gene rearrangements
Author(s) -
Sivakumaran M.,
Richards Stephen J.,
Hunt Kaye M.,
Steed Andrew J.,
Bynoe A. Geraldine,
Morgan Mary M.,
Pyrah Roger,
Roberts Bryon E.,
Scott Colin Stephen
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2141.1991.tb04450.x
Subject(s) - cd3 , cd16 , cd8 , t cell receptor , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , gene rearrangement , immunology , t cell , antigen , genetics , gene , immune system
Summary. Phenotypic characteristics, and correlations between the expression of membrane NK‐associated (NKa) determinants (CD11b, CD16, CD56 and CD57) and T cell receptor (TCR) genotypic patterns, were examined in 25 patients with persistent (>6 months) expansions of CD3 + WT31 + NKa + (CD8 + and CD8 dim+ ) lymphocytes. These studies showed that distinct NKa phenotypic profiles were restricted to cases with rearranged TCR configurations and that clonal CD3 + NKa + components could be predicted in most cases by assessing relationships between membrane CD16 and CD56 expression. For all normal NKa subpopulations, there was a high correlation ( P <0·0001: n = 31) between the expression of these two membrane determinants. Markedly increased CD16 expression by CD3 + NKa + cells, in relation to CD56 (i.e. a high CD16:CD56 ratio), was found exclusively in cases with rearranged TCR (13/16 cases); 2/3 of the remaining cases showing significantly reduced CD16:CD56 ratios and high (>2·0) CD3 + CD56 + absolute numbers. In contrast, 7/9 of the germline TCR cases had a normal CD16:CD56 ratio and 2/9 a decreased ratio with low (<1·0) CD3 + CD56 + absolute numbers. A high ratio of CD16:CD56 expression by CD3 + NKa + lymphocytes was therefore informative for 82% of TCR rearrangements in this series: and analysis of CD16 and CD56 expression was predictive for germline and rearranged TCR configurations in 24/25 persistent CD3 + NKa + expansions.