[Changes of TRGV genes and prognosis-related chemokine/receptor gene expressions in T cell lymphoma].

Objective To analyze the expressions of T cell receptor γ subfamily variable region I, II, and III genes (TRGV I~III) and prognosis-related chemokines and their receptor genes (CCL20, CCR6, CCL17, CCL22 and CCR4) in the peripheral blood of T-cell lymphoma (non-γδ T cell type) patients, and to investigate the correlations between γδ T cells and chemokines/receptors and their relevance to disease prognosis. Methods Peripheral blood samples were collected from 27 patients with T-cell lymphoma (non-γδ T cell type) and 9 healthy individuals as controls. Expressions of TRGV I~III subfamily genes and prognosis-related chemokines/receptors (CCL20/CCR6 and CCL17/CCL22/CCR4) in the peripheral blood of patients with T-cell lymphoma and normal controls were detected by quantitative real-time PCR. Results Compared with the normal controls, the expression levels of TRGV I-III subfamily genes of patients at the stages of initial onset, relapse/refractoriness and complete remission (CR) were significantly higher, and the expression patterns of TRGV subfamilies were changed. The expression levels of CCL22 and CCR4 in initial onset group and relapse/refractory group were significantly higher than that in normal controls, while CCL17 expression was significantly lower than that in normal controls. There were unique correlation patterns in the expressions of TRGV subfamily genes and chemokine/receptor genes in the patients at the stages of initial onset, CR and relapse/refractoriness. There are low expressions of TRGV II subfamilies in newly diagnosed and relapse/refractory T-cell lymphoma patients, and their expressions are elevated after treatment. Conclusion TRGV II subfamilies might be the T cell functional subset against T-cell lymphoma, and might be associated with the outcome of the disease. And the high expression of CCL22/CCR4 might be related to the pathogenesis of T-cell lymphoma.