EXPRESSION OF TIA-1 AND TIA-2 IN T-CELL MALIGNANCIES AND T-CELL LYMPHOCYTOSIS

Objective-To investigate the reactivity with TIA-1 and TIA-2, two mono clonal antibodies that recognise, respectively, granular structures in T lymphocyres and the T cell receptor chain in cells from a variety o f T cell disorders. Methods-Cytoplasmic staining with TIA-1 and TIA-2 was carried out by the immunoalkaline phosphatase anti-alkaline phosph atase technique in 67 cases with a T cell disorder: 31 large granular lymphocyte (LGL) leukaemia, nine T-prolymphocytic leukaemia (T-PLL), f ive Sezary syndrome, four peripheral T cell lymphoma (PTCL), 13 T cell lymphocytosis, and five T-acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (T-ALL). All had over 75% abnormal T cells which were CD2+, CD3+, CD5+, CD7t-, and negative with B cell markers. Results-TLA-1 was positive in 77% cases of LGL leukaemia and half of the PTCL and T-ALL, whereas it was negati ve in all Sezary syndrome and most T-PLL (8/9) and reactive T-lymphocy tosis (10/13). In LGL leukaemia, TIA-1 was positive irrespective of th e membrane phenotype, whether CD8+, CD4- or CD4+, CD8-, and was more o ften positive in cases where cells were CD16+, CD56+, or CD57+. TLA-2 was positive in 60% of cases encompassing all diagnostic types of T ce ll disorder. There was no correlation between TIA-2 expression and tha t of other T cell markers, activation antigens, and natural killer mar kers. Conclusions-The pattern of TIA-1 expression in T cell malignanci es may help in the differential diagnosis among LGL leukaemia (high ex pression), T cell lymphocytosis and other T cell diseases (low express ion). As TIA-2 is expressed in over 95% mature T lymphocytes and thymi c cells, its assessment may be useful to demonstrate aberrant phenotyp es which can be exploited for detecting minimal residual disease.