Frequency of clonal B lymphocytes in chronic myelogenous leukemia evaluated by fluorescence in situ hybridization.
The demonstration of the Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome in B lymphocytes from patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) has provided evidence that the disorder originates in a pluripotent progenitor cell. Divergent results, however, exist as to the degree of contribution of clonally derived cells to the B-cell compartment. To address this issue, B lymphocytes were selected from the blood of seven patients in the chronic phase of Ph-positive CML and were examined with dual-color fluoresence in situ hybridization for the presence of the Ph translocation. The purity of the B-cell preparations ranged from 88% to 97% (mean 93%). The Ph translocation was detected in 22-34% (mean, 27%) of the sorted B cells. There was no evidence that the duration of the disease affects the ratio of Ph-positive and -negative B cells. In summary, clonally derived circulating B lymphocytes were present in all patients studied but made only minor contribution to this compartment.
al-Amin
A
A
Department of Internal Medicine, West German Cancer Center, University of Essen Medical School, Germany.
Lennartz
K
K
Runde
V
V
Seeber
S
S
Opalka
B
B
Kloke
O
O
D000328:Adult; D018941:Antigens, CD19 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male
D018941:Antigens, CD19; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens