DEFECTIVE INTERLEUKIN-2R GENE-EXPRESSION IN GASTRIC-CARCINOMA PATIENTS

Peripheral blood T lymphocytes from 15 patients with gastric carcinoma and 6 normal healthy controls were evaluated for Interleukin-2 R gene expression. Total RNA was extracted from T cell-enriched fractions of patients as well as from control peripheral blood lymphocytes, with o r without mitogenic stimulation. The presence of mRNA for IL-2 R alpha evaluated by Northern blot analysis revealed that unstimulated T cell s expressed lower levels of IL-2 R mRNA than PHA stimulated T cells. E xpression of both IL-2 R alpha transcripts (3.5 and 1.5 Kb) were eithe r not detectable or only weakly detectable on T lymphocytes from patie nts even after mitogenic stimulation. In contrast, a significant rise in the expression of both IL-2 R alpha transcripts was observed on T c ells from normal controls followed by mitogenic challenge. This paper reports on the defective IL-2 R alpha gene expression in gastric carci noma patients, which may explain one of the causes of immunodeficiency associated with neoplastic transformation and progression.