Predominant expression of T cell receptor V alpha 7 in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes of uveal melanoma |
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Authors: | T Nitta J R Oksenberg N A Rao L Steinman |
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Institution: | Department of Genetics, Stanford University Medical Center, CA 94305. |
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Abstract: | Expression of T cell receptor (TCR) V alpha genes in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) within intraocular melanoma was studied. Primers for 18 different human TCR V alpha families were used to analyze TCR V alpha-C alpha gene rearrangements in TIL in these melanomas obtained at surgery. A limited number of TCR V alpha genes were expressed and rearranged in these tumors, and TILs expressing V alpha 7 were found in seven of eight of these uveal melanomas. TCR gene usage is also restricted in experimental autoimmune disease, in T cells within organs like skin and other epithelial tissues, and in the brain of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The restricted usage of TCR genes in TIL may indicate that a specific antigen in these melanomas is targeted. |
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