Methodology

Relative quantification of TCR Vbeta-chain families by real time PCR for identification of clonal T-cell populations

Sebastian Ochsenreither¹ , Alberto Fusi¹ , Antonia Busse¹ , Dirk Nagorsen¹ , David Schrama² , Jürgen Becker² , Eckhard Thiel¹ and Ulrich Keilholz¹

¹  University Hospital Benjamin Franklin, Medizinische Klinik III, Hematology, Oncology, and Transfusion Medicine, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 12200, Berlin, Germany

²  University of Würzburg, Clinic for Dermatology, Allergology, and Venerology, 97080, Würzburg, Germany

author email corresponding author email

Journal of Translational Medicine 2008, 6:34doi:10.1186/1479-5876-6-34

Published:	1 July 2008

Abstract

Background

Quantification of T-cell receptor (TCR) chain families can be utilized for detection of clonal T-cell populations. Besides southern blotting and antibody-based approaches, quantitative real time PCR (qRT PCR) has been more widely applied in this context during the last years. Here, the heterogeneity of sequences within single families is the most challenging problem for exact quantification.

Method

Vβ-families were quantified using a universal reverse primer and family-specific forward primers with TaqMan technology on a light cycler instrument. Relative concentrations were calculated considering slopes and crossing points of each PCR reaction. Total expression of α/β TCR was assessed by quantification of the constant α-chain as a further control.

Results

The method was tested by serial dilutions of clonal T-cells in mononuclear cells from healthy volunteers. Calculated percentages were in good correspondence with qRT PCR results demonstrating high reliability. Duplicates showed excellent technical reproducibility. We analyzed blood samples of 20 healthy volunteers for determination of mean and standard deviation for each family. The method was applied both to tissue and blood samples from patients with carcinomas and hematological disorders.

Conclusion

We introduce a versatile method for the relative quantification of Vβ-families by real time PCR. The experimental strategy described allows the identification of alterations in the Vβ-family repertoire.