Detection of clonal T cell receptor γ gene rearrangements in cutaneous T cell lymphoma by LightCycler-polymerase chain reaction

Cutaneous T cell lymphoma is thought to be characterized by a monoclonal T cell infiltrate in the skin that can be detected by polymerase chain reaction-based amplification of T cell receptor gamma gene rearrangements. We sought to establish a new, simple, and fast LightCycler-based real-time polymerase chain reaction assay for the detection of monoclonality in cutaneous T cell lymphoma, which was suitable for routine laboratory application. Monoclonal T cell receptor gamma gene rearrangements were detected by polymerase chain reaction with consensus primers using: (i) a thermocycler followed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; (ii) a LightCycler followed by melting curve analysis; and (iii) a LightCycler and subsequent polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The detection limit of monoclonal Jurkat T cells diluted in polyclonal peripheral blood mononuclear cells was: (i) 1-3% by thermocycler-polymerase chain reaction and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; (ii) 10% by LightCycler-polymerase chain reaction and melting curve analysis; and (iii) 1% by LightCycler-polymerase chain reaction and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In skin biopsies of 22 cutaneous T cell lymphoma patients, a monoclonal or biclonal T cell infiltrate was detected in: (i) 15 of 22 (68%) by thermocycler-polymerase chain reaction and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; (ii) 13 of 22 (59%) by LightCycler-polymerase chain reaction and melting curve analysis; and (iii) 16 of 22 (72%) by LightCycler-polymerase chain reaction and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. All three techniques revealed negative results in skin biopsies from 26 patients with benign dermatitis. In conclusion, LightCycler-polymerase chain reaction and melting curve analysis is a fast, simple and specific method to detect monoclonal T cell infiltrates in cutaneous T cell lymphoma. Sensitivity of LightCycler-polymerase chain reaction and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis is slightly higher compared with sensitivity of thermocycler-polymerase chain reaction and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Melting curve analysis, however, is less sensitive compared with polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and in case of negative results of the melting curve analysis, it is recommended to resolve LightCycler-polymerase chain reaction samples by gel electrophoresis.