Heterogeneous immunophenotype of granular lymphocyte expansions: differential expression of the CD8 alpha and CD8 beta chains.

In this study, we have evaluated 14 large granular lymphocyte (LGL) expansions, 11 of which were CD8+. Analysis of the membrane expression of the alpha and beta chains of the CD8 antigen, using specific monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs), has shown that LGL expansions with the CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD57+ T-cell receptor (TcR) alpha beta phenotype bear the CD8 alpha/alpha isoform, while the CD3+, CD4-, CD8+, CD57+ TcR alpha beta samples were positive for both the CD8 alpha and CD8 beta chains. These data were confirmed also by messenger RNA analysis. One additional case, with a peculiar phenotype (CD3-, CD2-, CD4-, CD8+, CD57-) and a germline configuration of the TcR beta and gamma chain genes, expressed only the CD8 alpha chain. After additional phenotypic analysis with a wider panel of MoAbs, it was found that the beta chain of the interleukin-2 receptor was constitutively expressed on the majority of the samples tested, and that most of the monoclonal samples coexpressed CD45RA/R0 antigens. Using MoAbs directed against the variable regions of the TcR beta chain, we could show a preferential V beta region restriction in the CD8+ monoclonal cases. This more extensive characterization of CD8+ LGL expansions has further documented the marked heterogeneity within this rare condition and allowed a better phenotypic dissection between the monoclonal and polyclonal cases.