During T-cell development, thymocytes undergo a sequence of immunophenotypic and
immunogenotypic changes resulting in the formation of mature T cells with receptors that
recognize antigens with high specificity: the T-cell receptor (TCR). Recombination processes
underlie the generation of the antigen-specificity of TCR molecules. The central theme of this
thesis constitutes the basic aspects of V(D)J recombination of TCR genes and the diagnostic
applications of the TCR in mature T-cell malignancies.
The BIOMED-2 multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers and protocols have
been developed for the detection of immunoglobulin (Ig) and TCR gene rearrangements in
human lymphoid cells. Using these assays we studied TCR diversity (repertoire) formation
during T-cell development in human T lymphocytes. In addition, TCR gene rearrangement
analysis was performed in malignant lymphoproliferations to determine its clinical diagnostic
relevance, as well as to gain insight into the pathogenesis of mature T-cell malignancies.
Publication date
13/06/2007
Field of study
During T-cell development, thymocytes undergo a sequence of immunophenotypic and
immunogenotypic changes resulting in the formation of mature T cells with receptors that
recognize antigens with high specificity: the T-cell receptor (TCR). Recombination processes
underlie the generation of the antigen-specificity of TCR molecules. The central theme of this
thesis constitutes the basic aspects of V(D)J recombination of TCR genes and the diagnostic
applications of the TCR in mature T-cell malignancies.
The BIOMED-2 multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers and protocols have
been developed for the detection of immunoglobulin (Ig) and TCR gene rearrangements in
human lymphoid cells. Using these assays we studied TCR diversity (repertoire) formation
during T-cell development in human T lymphocytes. In addition, TCR gene rearrangement
analysis was performed in malignant lymphoproliferations to determine its clinical diagnostic
relevance, as well as to gain insight into the pathogenesis of mature T-cell malignancies