Mucosal-Associated Invariant T Cells in T-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas: A Case Series

Overview

Journal Cancers (Basel)

Publisher MDPI

Specialty Oncology

Date 2022 Jun 24

PMID 35740587

Authors

Pietro Torre

Annalisa Brescia

Giorgio Giurato

Raffaella DAuria

Francesca Rizzo

Benedetta Maria Motta

Valentina Giudice

Carmine Selleri

Pio Zeppa

Alessandro Caputo

Vincenzo Casolaro

Marcello Persico

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are a subset of unconventional T lymphocytes expressing a semi-invariant α/β T-cell receptor (TCR). The physiological functions of these cells, which are particularly abundant in normal liver and mucosal sites, have become clear only in recent years, but their role in most human diseases is still unknown. Since the cellular origin and etiopathogenesis of most T-lymphomas are still elusive, we decided to explore the presence of MAIT cells in biopsies from these neoplasms.

Methods: Sixteen biopsies obtained from patients with a T-cell lymphoma diagnosis were analyzed via immunofluorescence staining using an anti-Vα7.2 antibody and the MR1-antigen tetramer. Positive cases were subjected to a polymerase chain reaction for the detection of Vα7.2-Jα33, Vα7.2-Jα20, or Vα7.2-Jα12 rearrangements, followed by sequencing of the CDR3α region.

Results: CD3+/Vα7.2+ and CD3+/MR1-Ag-tetramer+ cells were found in 4 of 16 samples analyzed. The identification of specific TCR rearrangements confirmed the presence of these cells in all four samples. PCR and sequencing results documented the presence of multiple clones of MAIT cells in each positive sample.

Conclusions: MAIT cells are frequently found in T-cell lymphomas. More in-depth studies and a larger number of samples are needed to better clarify the contribution of MAIT cells to this rare neoplasm.

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