CD4+ cutaneous T-cell lymphoma cells express the p140–killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor

Abstract

Tumor cells of patients with cutaneous Tcell lymphoma (CTCL) have the cell surface phenotype of mature T-helper lymphocytes, and it may be impossible to differentiate them from nonmalignant lymphocytes in skin and blood. Until now, no specific cell membrane marker of CTCL has been reported. In the current study, it is reported for the first time that CTCL cells express the major histocompatibility complex class I binding p140-killer cell immunoglobulinlike receptor, which has been described on a minor subset of natural killer lymphocytes and on a marginal circulating CD8 ؉ T lymphocyte subset. Interestingly, the molecular characterization of this KIR expressed by CTCL allowed us to isolate a novel allelic form of p140-KIR3DL, resulting in 4 amino

Recognition of HLA‐A3 and HLA‐A11 by KIR3DL2 is peptide‐specific

“…It remains to be established whether the interaction of KIR3DL2 with HLA-A3 and -A11 complexed with a restricted set of peptides is physiologically relevant. KIR3DL2 expression was recently associated with CD4 + cutaneous T cell lymphomas and could contribute to their resistance to activation-induced cell death (AICD), although no solid evidence has been provided [19,20]. Using the HLA-A3 and -A11 tetramers, we could stain NK cell clones expressing quite high levels of KIR3DL2 receptors, but we failed to stain NK or T cells from PBMC, suggesting that the density of the receptor on circulating NK and T cells may not be sufficient to obtain binding (data not shown).…”

Natural killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) locus profiles in African and South Asian populations

“…Consequently KIRs have been implicated in several diseases including natural killer (NK) and T cell lymphomas, 4,5 coeliac disease 6 and rheumatoid arthritis, 7,8 in the potentially ben-eficial graft vs leukaemia responses 9 and also in the transition to memory phenotype for CD8 + T cells. 10 Variable gene content is observed for the KIR region at chromosome 19q13.…”

Engagement of ILT2/CD85j in Sézary syndrome cells inhibits their CD3/TCR signaling

“…12 In an attempt to define specific cell surface receptors restricted to CTCL that may elucidate the pathophysiology of the disease, we have recently identified the expression of the unique inhibitory killer cell Ig-like receptor (KIR) CD158k/KIR3DL2 on SS tumor cells. 13 In normal peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs), only natural killer (NK) cells and a subset of CD8 ϩ memory cytolytic T lymphocyte (CTLs) express KIR in a clonotypic manner. The interaction of KIR with specific major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-I alleles determines the NK cell tolerance to self and maintains CD8 ϩ T lymphocyte survival.…”