Investigate the Clonal Origin of Different Phenotypic Tumor-like Cells in the Epidermis and Dermis of Skin Lesions in Lymphomatoid Papulosis

Objective To explore the correlation of the clone sources of MF-like cells in the epidermis and RS-like cells in the dermis of lymphomatoid papulosis (LyP), a compartive study of this two type cells in 8 LyP cases was carried out. Methods 8 cases of LyP (4 type A cases and 4 type C cases) were detected the immunophenotype first, and then comparative study between the MF-like cells and RS-like cells was conducted on T-cell receptor (TCR) γ-chain gene rearrangement by combinating laser capture microdissectinon (LCM) and PCR. PCR products of one patient which had positive bands were selected randomly for sequencing and sequence alignment analysis. Results Monoclonal \TCRγ gene rearrangement was detected in 6 cases (75%) of the 8 cases. Detection rates of LyP type A and type C were 50% (2/4) and 100% (4/4), respectively. The rates of MF-like cells and RS-like cells were 75% (6/8) and 75% (6/8), respectively. Homology of the products with positive stripes in both MF-like cells and RS-like cells in one randomly selected case was compared and analyzed, and the results showed the homology of them was 106/108 (98%). Conclusion The MF-like cells in the epidermis and the RS-like cells in the dermis of LyP may be from the same clone.