Presence of restricted killer immunoglobulin-like receptor repertoire and monoclonal T-cell receptor gamma rearrangement as evidence of mixed NK/T-cell differentiation in a subset of sinonasal lymphomas

Lab Invest. 2003 Jan;83(1):55-64. doi: 10.1097/01.lab.0000047491.62596.a3.

Abstract

Most sinonasal lymphomas have a restricted killer immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) repertoire without a monoclonal T-cell receptor-gamma (TCR-gamma) rearrangement, implying an NK lineage. However, the lineage assignment of sinonasal lymphoma with a monoclonal TCR-gamma rearrangement is unclear because of its mixed NK/T phenotype. The possibility of a mixed NK/T lineage arises with the discovery of T cells with NK features, such as KIR(+) T cells or Valpha24(+) NKT cells. The former might transform into a T-cell lymphoma with both a monoclonal TCR-gamma rearrangement and a restricted KIR repertoire; the latter might give rise to a T-cell lymphoma with a monoclonal Valpha24 rearrangement and possibly a restricted KIR repertoire. To identify such mixed-lineage lymphomas, we undertook a survey of 15 consecutive sinonasal lymphomas and found six with both a restricted KIR repertoire and a monoclonal TCR-gamma rearrangement, consistent with KIR(+) T-cell lymphomas. Among these six cases, four female CD56(-)/CD44(-)/CD8(-)/CD45RO(+)/CD45RA(-) cases constituted a distinct group with a better prognosis than the rest of the male cases of sinonasal lymphomas. None of the six cases had a monoclonal Valpha24 repertoire, thus excluding a derivation from NKT cells. The predominance of KIR(+) T cells that normally function in chronic viral infections over Valpha24(+) NKT cells that typically recognize glycolipid antigens is consistent with the known association of Epstein-Barr virus infection with sinonasal lymphoma. The demonstration of mixed lineage in a mature lymphoid neoplasm is unusual and echoes the World Health Organization classification that placed NK-cell and T-cell lymphomas in a mixed group.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • Cell Differentiation*
  • DNA Primers
  • Gene Rearrangement, gamma-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor*
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell / genetics
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell / immunology*
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell / pathology
  • Nose Neoplasms / genetics
  • Nose Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Nose Neoplasms / pathology
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

Substances

  • DNA Primers