title: Immunophenotypic and idiotypic characterisation of the leukaemic B-cells from patients with prolymphocytic leukaemia: evidence for a selective expression of immunoglobulin variable region (IGV) gene products.
abstract: B-cell prolymphocytic leukaemia (B-PLL) is a rare chronic lymphoproliferative disease characterised by a massive splenomegaly associated with a mild or no lymphadenopathy and a high leukocyte count, mostly representing prolymphocytic features. We have studied membrane expression of certain Ig VK and VH gene products in five patients with B-PLL using a panel of monoclonal anti-subgroup and anti-cross-reactive idiotype (CRI) antibodies. Membrane expression of leukocyte-associated markers has also been investigated. The leukaemic cells from four patients expressed VKIII and VKIIIb subgroup and sub-subgroup kappa light chains. The VKIIIb and VHI-associated CRI identified by the monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) 17-109 and G8 were co-expressed in one patient. No B-cells from the patients expressed the VHIII-associated CRI. The same pattern of CRI expression was observed in a serum paraprotein collected from one of the patients. These results suggest a biased selection for the IG VKIII and VKIIIb light chains in B-PLL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Medical School, University of Birmingham, U.K.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shokri
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Mageed
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jefferis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000097:blood; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000276:immunology*; D005803:Genes, Immunoglobulin; D006801:Humans; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000097:blood; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D007132:Immunoglobulin Isotypes / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains / Q000097:blood; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D015463:Leukemia, Prolymphocytic / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes; D007132:Immunoglobulin Isotypes; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region