Immunoglobulin and T cell receptor gene rearrangements in human lymphoma
and leukemia
ME Williams, DJ Innes , MJ Borowitz, MA Lovell, SH Swerdlow, PE Hurtubise, RK Brynes, WC Chan, GE Byrne and CC Whitcomb
DNA samples from blood leukocytes or tumor biopsies of 45 patients with
phenotypic B or T cell neoplasms were analyzed for rearrangements of the
immunoglobulin (Ig) or T cell receptor (TCR) genes by Southern blot
hybridization analysis. Rearrangements of the Ig heavy chain joining region
genes (JH) were present in DNA from each of 28 B cell lymphomas and
leukemias; 14 of 21 of these tumors also had rearrangements of the Ig kappa
light chain joining (JK) or deleting element (KDel) genes. Conversely, 16
of 17 T cell lymphomas and leukemias had rearranged TCR beta chain genes.
One B cell and one T cell tumor had rearrangements of both Ig and TCR
genes. There was a strong correlation between the rearrangements of
specific genes and the immunophenotype of the tumor: JH rearrangement
without TCR beta chain rearrangement occurred only in B cell tumors; TCR
beta chain rearrangement with or without JH rearrangement occurred only in
T cell tumors, with one exception; and JK and KDel rearrangements were
found only in B cell tumors. Thus, rearrangements of the Ig heavy and light
chain genes and the TCR beta chain genes were found to be highly sensitive
markers of monoclonal human lymphomas and lymphoid leukemias, with the type
of gene rearrangements well correlated with the cell lineage of these
neoplasms.
Volume 69,
Issue 1,
pp. 79-86,
01/01/1987
Copyright © 1987 by The American Society of Hematology
