Kappa-chain gene rearrangement in an apparent T-lineage lymphoma.
We describe a 10-yr-old boy with T-lineage non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. He had a mediastinal mass, swollen supraclavicular lymph nodes, and pleural effusion. A supraclavicular lymph node biopsy under light microscopy showed a malignant lymphoma of diffuse lymphoblastic type. Most of the cells taken from the malignant pleural effusion expressed T cell-associated antigens such as Leu-1 and OKT 8. To confirm these antigens as T-lineage lymphoma, we examined genomic DNA from malignant cells obtained from the pleural effusion. As was expected, T cell receptor beta-chain gene rearrangements were demonstrated. However, when the immunoglobulin gene organization was analyzed, we detected rearrangements in both the heavy- and kappa-chain genes. To our knowledge, this is the first case in which kappa-chain gene rearrangement was detected in apparent T-lineage cells. These findings provide important information relating to determination of the cellular lineage of lymphoid malignancy.
D002648:Child; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D013601:T-Lymphocytes
D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D004247:DNA