Immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region family expression in primary cutaneous follicle centre cell lymphomas.
BACKGROUND
Primary cutaneous follicle centre cell lymphomas (PCFCCL) are the most common type of primary cutaneous B-cell lymphomas. Patients with this disorder develop one or a few clinically indolent tumour nodules, plaques, or papules confined to a circumscribed area. Only limited data have so far been published on the use of immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region (VH) families by these tumours.


OBJECTIVE
Because the definition of the repertoire of VH genes could have significant biological and diagnostic implications, we evaluated a group of patients with PCFCCL for VH family use.


METHODS
DNA obtained from 15 cases of PCFCCL was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using a panel of VH family-specific amplimers.


RESULTS
The pattern of VH family usage was similar to that reported in both normal peripheral blood B cells and the most common low grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, where VH region utilization is essentially random with frequent usage of the VH3 family.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings support the hypothesis that PCFCCL may derive from the mature peripheral lymphoid compartment. Our results may also have implications for the routine analysis of B-lymphoid clonality in PCFCCL.
Alaibac
M
M
Institute of Dermatology, University of Padua, Via C. Battisti 206, Padua 35100, Italy. alaibac@ux1.unipd.it
Belloni-Fortina
A
A
Mori
M
M
Pigozzi
B
B
Peserico
A
A
Pimpinelli
N
N
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D015321:Gene Rearrangement; D006801:Humans; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000378:metabolism*; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000378:metabolism*; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000276:immunology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region