Expression of immunoglobulin kappa light chain constant region in abnormal human cervical epithelial cells.
Although it is generally believed that, under normal conditions, the only source of immunoglobulin is mature B lymphocytes, we recently found several epithelium-derived carcinoma cell lines also express immunolglobulin-like protein. We extended our study to biopsy samples of human cervical tissues with various epithelial lesions. By in situ hybridization, we only detected a low level of mRNA for the immunoglobulin kappa light chain constant region in epithelia with cervicitis. However, in epithelia with dysplasia and carcinoma, the expression of mRNA for the kappa constant region was markedly increased. There was no significant difference in the level of mRNA for the kappa constant region between epithelial dysplasia and carcinoma. The aberrant expression of immunoglobulin kappa light chain constant region in dysplastic and cancerous cervical epithelial cells may serve as a marker for malignant cell transformation.
Cancer Research Institute, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Xiangya Road #88, Changsha, Hunan 410078, PR China.
Ming
M
Li
De-Yun
DY
Feng
Wei
W
Ren
Liang
L
Zheng
Hui
H
Zheng
Min
M
Tang
Ya
Y
Cao
D001483:Base Sequence; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002575:Uterine Cervicitis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains