Differential expression of T-bet, a T-box transcription factor required for Th1 T-cell development, in peripheral T-cell lymphomas

Am J Clin Pathol. 2003 Dec;120(6):866-73. doi: 10.1309/MLUF-X0HR-5B96-GVAX.

Abstract

We studied T-bet expression in 91 cases of peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) by immunostaining and found expression in 42 cases (46%), including all 5 lymphoepithelioid lymphoma cases and 12 (86%) of 14 angioimmunoblastic lymphoma cases, but only 9 (25%) of 36 anaplastic large cell lymphoma cases. Expression of T-bet in PTCL correlates with expression of other markers of Th1 T-cell differentiation, including CXCR3 (P < .0001), CD69 (P = .0013), LEF-1 (P = .0007), and OX40/CD134 (P = .005), and absence of expression of markers of Th2 T-cell differentiation, including CD30 (P = .0001) and CXCR4 (P = .0144). Of 22 cases of PTCL immunoreactive for all Th1-associated markers previously studied and nonreactive for Th2-associated markers, 20 (91%) were immunoreactive for T-bet. Of 22 PTCL cases immunoreactive for Th2-associated markers studied and nonreactive for all Th1-associated markers studied, 4 (18%) were immunoreactive for T-bet. The remaining 47 PTCL cases (52%) exhibited incomplete or mixed staining for Th1- and Th2-associated markers, with 18 (38%) of 47 immunoreactive for T-bet. T-bet is a new marker that may contribute to the diagnosis and subtyping of PTCLs. T-bet expression in these neoplasms provides further support for a model of PTCL in which tumor subsets express markers of, and may be derived from, Th1- or Th2-committed T cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Lymphoid Tissue / chemistry
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell / immunology
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell / metabolism*
  • Lymphoproliferative Disorders / immunology
  • Lymphoproliferative Disorders / metabolism
  • T-Box Domain Proteins
  • Th1 Cells / physiology*
  • Th2 Cells / physiology
  • Transcription Factors / analysis*

Substances

  • T-Box Domain Proteins
  • T-box transcription factor TBX21
  • Transcription Factors