A human b-cell lymphoma synthesizing and expressing surface mu-chain in the
absence of detectable light chain
J Gordon, TJ Hamblin, JL Smith, FK Stevenson and GT Stevenson
Lymph node cells obtained from a case of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, of
follicular center cell histology, were seen by immunofluorescence to
express immunoglobulin mu heavy chains but no detectable light chain on
their surfaces. Antibody specific for determinants expressed only on
uncombined mu-chain reacted with these cell surfaces, but not with normal
or neoplastic cells expressing surface IgM. Analysis of radioiodinated
surface material revealed mu-chains which, without reduction, migrated on
SDS-gel electrophoresis as normal mu-chain monomers, and again failed to
detect light chains. Lysates of cells incubated with 3H-leucine revealed
the synthesis of mu-chains but not of light chains. The labeled mu-chains
were not secreted into the culture supernatant, a finding confirmed in
parallel cultures by radioimmunoassay. The findings are discussed with
particular reference to current concepts of the "mu-chain only" phenotype.
Volume 58,
Issue 3,
pp. 552-556,
09/01/1981
Copyright © 1981 by The American Society of Hematology
