Somatic STAT3 Mutations in CD8+ T Cells of HTLV-2 Positive Blood Donors

Introduction: T-cell large granular lymphocyte (T-LGL) leukemia is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder with recurrent somatic STAT3 mutations. It has been suggested that viral antigens act as the initial stimuli resulting in clonal expansion of CD8+ cells in the disease. However, less is known whether chronic exposure to viral antigens is associated with acquisition of somatic mutations in CD8+ T cells among individuals without clinically detectable lymphoproliferations.