title: Distinctive immunoglobulin VH gene usage in Japanese patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
abstract: The incidence of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is low in Asian countries including Japan, while CLL is the most common type of leukemia in the west. To elucidate which factors contribute to the low frequency of CLL in Japan, we investigated immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy chain gene usage and somatic hypermutation status in 44 Japanese patients with CLL. Only one of these patients used V(H)1-69. The finding is in striking contrast to data from western countries, where the frequency of CLL expressing V(H)1-69 ranges from 12 to 21%.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Clinical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, Gunma, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiromi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Koiso
authors.forename: Arito
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yamane
authors.forename: Takeki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mitsui
authors.forename: Takafumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsushima
authors.forename: Norifumi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tsukamoto
authors.forename: Hirokazu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.forename: Syuichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miyawaki
authors.forename: Yoshihisa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nojima
authors.forename: Masamitsu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karasawa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D015973:Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic; D006801:Humans; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D015994:Incidence; D007564:Japan; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D012307:Risk Factors; D027041:Somatic Hypermutation, Immunoglobulin / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins