Detection of immunoglobulin gene rearrangement in B lymphoid malignancies by polymerase chain reaction gene amplification.
Immunoglobulin heavy chain gene rearrangement serves as a marker of cell lineage and clonality in B lymphoproliferative disorders. We have used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) gene amplification to detect immunoglobulin gene rearrangements involving VH251, a heavy chain variable region preferentially utilized in B lymphoproliferative disorders. Using synthetic amplimers derived from VH251 and the heavy chain joining region, under conditions of high stringency, a homogeneous VH251-specific fragment of approximately 350 bp could be amplified from leukaemic DNA. Of 53 cases of B lineage acute lymphoblastic leukaemia screened for VH251 rearrangement by PCR, 10 were positive. A background level of VH251 rearrangement could also be amplified from normal peripheral blood and bone marrow DNA, but a VH251 rearranged leukaemic clone representing 0.01% of bone marrow mononuclear cells could be readily detected. The application of PCR to detect immunoglobulin gene rearrangement involving VH251 and potentially other preferentially utilized V regions provides a sensitive method both for tracking malignant B cells and for the study of normal B cell developmental pathways through which B lineage malignancies arise.
Deane
M
M
Department of Haematology, Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, London.
Norton
J D
JD
D015139:Blotting, Southern; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells; D002051:Burkitt Lymphoma / Q000235:genetics*; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D015326:Gene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte, Heavy Chain; D006801:Humans; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region