Expression of human recombination activating genes (RAG-1 and RAG-2) in angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy and anaplastic large cell lymphoma of T-type.

In order to determine the genotypic maturation status of the proliferating lymphoid cells in angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy (AILD) and in anaplastic large cell lymphoma of T-type (T-ALC), recombinase activating gene (RAG-1 and RAG-2) expression was assessed in six AILD and five T-ALC cases using a sensitive reverse transcriptase (RT) and competitive (C) polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RAG transcripts were not detectable in nine cases with high proliferating activity, suggesting that in most cases the proliferating cells are derived from mature (rearranged) lymphocytes. However, low levels of RAG transcripts were detected in one AILD and one T-ALC case and are consistent with either an involvement of immature lymphoid precursors in the proliferating pool or a deregulated T-cell maturation pathway with persistence of RAG expression. An association between RAG gene expression and poor response to therapy is possible but has to be tested in larger prospective series.