The ATL77 antibody is associated with T-cell receptor (TCR) clonal analysis in patients with chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) and related T-cell malignancies. It is linked to specific TCRβ rearrangements and somatic mutations observed in dominant T-cell clones, as identified through RNA sequencing studies .
TRBV4-2 Gene Rearrangement: ATL77 exhibits a unique TCRβ chain rearrangement involving the TRBV4-2 gene segment .
Point Mutation: A critical somatic mutation at the 28th base pair (adenine → guanine) leads to an amino acid substitution (arginine → glycine) at position 10 of the CDR3 region .
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Gene Segment | TRBV4-2 |
| Nucleotide Mutation | A → G at position 28 |
| Amino Acid Change | Arginine (R) → Glycine (G) |
| Functional Impact | Potential alteration in antigen-binding specificity or affinity |
Clonal Dominance: ATL77 was identified as one of two dominant clones in a patient sample (ATL77), showcasing identical TCRβ rearrangements and mutations .
Pathogenic Implications: Such mutations may contribute to aberrant T-cell activation, potentially driving autoimmune or lymphoproliferative disorders .
Biomarker Potential: The mutation in ATL77 could serve as a biomarker for tracking clonal T-cell populations in cGVHD or ATL .
Therapeutic Targeting: Antibodies targeting mutant TCR regions, like ATL77, may offer avenues for immunotherapy in T-cell malignancies .