TdT

Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) is an unusual deoxynucleotide polymerizing enzyme with a molecular weight of about 58 kDa found normally only in B- and T-cell lymphoblasts/prelymphocytes. The gene is located at 10q23-q24 and encodes a template-independent DNA polymerase that catalyzes the addition of deoxynucleotides to the 3'-hydroxyl terminus of oligonucleotide primers. TdT generates antigen receptor diversity by synthesizing non-germ line elements (N-regions) at the junctions of rearranged Ig heavy chain and T cell receptor gene segments. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding long and short isoforms of this gene have been described. Rare TdT-positive cells are regularly detected in thymus and bone marrow. Typically, TdT expression in the thymus is very variable from cell to cell since it is rapidly decreased in more mature T-cells. Tdt-positive cells may occasionally be found in tonsils, lymph nodes and extranodal lymphoid tissue. A subpopulation of haematogones (immature benign B-cell precursors in the bone marrow) forming linear arrangements also shows expression of TdT, which may reach significant numbers in the bone marrow biopsy with reactive changes (B-cell left shift), which is often more florid in children than in adults. However, even when markedly increased, TdT-positive haematogones should not form clusters larger than 5 cells in the bone marrow.

Uniform and strong expression is typical for pre-B and pre-T acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoblastic lymphoma (ALL/LBL). Very weak expression is also sometimes seen in Burkitt lymphoma. All other mature (peripheral) malignant lymphomas are negative. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) may show expression of TdT, which is not unusual finding in AML-M0 or AML with multilineage dysplasia, but rarely can be seen in other types of AML.

Immunohistochemical detection of TdT has value in classification of malignant lymphomas and acute leukaemias, particularly for the identification of pre-B and pre-T acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoblastic lymphoma (ALL/LBL). The intensity of TdT expression is important since weak expression of TdT does not strongly support the diagnosis of ALL/LBL.

Thymus is recommended as control for detection of TdT. The protocol must be calibrated to give an intense nuclear staining reaction in virtually all cortical thymocytes. Scattered thymocytes situated in medulla will be positive.

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