Genetic and phenotypic characterization of indolent T-cell lymphoproliferative disorders of the gastrointestinal tract.

Journal Article (Journal Article)

Indolent T-cell lymphoproliferative disorders of the gastrointestinal tract are rare clonal T-cell diseases that more commonly occur in the intestines and have a protracted clinical course. Different immunophenotypic subsets have been described, but the molecular pathogenesis and cell of origin of these lymphocytic proliferations is poorly understood. Hence, we performed targeted next-generation sequencing and comprehensive immunophenotypic analysis of ten indolent T-cell lymphoproliferative disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, which comprised CD4+ (n=4), CD8+ (n=4), CD4+/CD8+ (n=1) and CD4-/CD8- (n=1) cases. Genetic alterations, including recurrent mutations and novel rearrangements, were identified in 8/10 (80%) of these lymphoproliferative disorders. The CD4+, CD4+/CD8+, and CD4-/CD8- cases harbored frequent alterations of JAK-STAT pathway genes (5/6, 82%); STAT3 mutations (n=3), SOCS1 deletion (n=1) and STAT3-JAK2 rearrangement (n=1), and 4/6 (67%) had concomitant mutations in epigenetic modifier genes (TET2, DNMT3A, KMT2D). Conversely, 2/4 (50%) of the CD8+ cases exhibited structural alterations involving the 3' untranslated region of the IL2 gene. Longitudinal genetic analysis revealed stable mutational profiles in 4/5 (80%) cases and acquisition of mutations in one case was a harbinger of disease transformation. The CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ lymphoproliferative disorders displayed heterogeneous Th1 (T-bet+), Th2 (GATA3+) or hybrid Th1/Th2 (T-bet+/GATA3+) profiles, while the majority of CD8+ disorders and the CD4-/CD8- disease showed a type-2 polarized (GATA3+) effector T-cell (Tc2) phenotype. Additionally, CD103 expression was noted in 2/4 CD8+ cases. Our findings provide insights into the pathogenetic bases of indolent T-cell lymphoproliferative disorders of the gastrointestinal tract and confirm the heterogeneous nature of these diseases. Detection of shared and distinct genetic alterations of the JAK-STAT pathway in certain immunophenotypic subsets warrants further mechanistic studies to determine whether therapeutic targeting of this signaling cascade is efficacious for a proportion of patients with these recalcitrant diseases.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Soderquist, CR; Patel, N; Murty, VV; Betman, S; Aggarwal, N; Young, KH; Xerri, L; Leeman-Neill, R; Lewis, SK; Green, PH; Hsiao, S; Mansukhani, MM; Hsi, ED; de Leval, L; Alobeid, B; Bhagat, G

Published Date

  • July 2020

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 105 / 7

Start / End Page

  • 1895 - 1906

PubMed ID

  • 31558678

Pubmed Central ID

  • PMC7327650

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1592-8721

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.3324/haematol.2019.230961

Language

  • eng

Conference Location

  • Italy