B lymphoblastoid cell lines with rearranged T cell receptor beta-chain genes retain conventional B cell surface antigen and Ig expression.
Transformation of peripheral blood lymphocytes by co-incubation with EBV produces B lymphoblastoid cell lines, but rearrangement of TCR beta-chain genes was observed in three different cell lines derived from two individuals. Because rearrangement of TCR genes in B lymphocytes is considered a rare event, these B lymphoblastoid cell lines with rearranged TCR beta-genes were examined in detail to determine whether there were any additional characteristics to distinguish them from B lymphoblastoid cell lines with germ-line TCR beta-genes. All B lymphoblastoid cell lines contained rearranged Ig H and kappa L chain genes, secreted Ig, and expressed B and not T cell surface markers. Cell lines with rearranged TCR beta-genes had rearranged both IgH genes and had rearranged and subsequently deleted both kappa C region genes. Furthermore all three B lymphoblastoid cell lines with rearranged TCR beta-genes produced small amounts of Ig with lambda-L chains. Although the cellular mechanisms maintaining lineage-specific rearrangement events remain unknown, extensive Ig gene rearrangement and inefficient Ig production by B cells may be indicators of a cellular status where normally stringent lineage-specific control elements fail to function efficiently.
Robinson
M A
MA
Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, MD 20892.
Kindt
T J
TJ
D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D002460:Cell Line; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human; D006801:Humans; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains / Q000235:genetics; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics*; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D011995:Recombination, Genetic
D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte; D006680:HLA Antigens; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta