title: B cells behaving badly.
abstract: The pathogenesis of B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders in general and B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia in particular appears to involve dysfunctional regulation of humoral and cellular immunity with the subsequent development of genetic aberrations in B cells. In theory, either component may arise de novo or may be influenced by environmental exposures including infectious agents, antigens, genotoxic chemicals, or radiation. As an intermediary within the exposure-disease continuum, monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis may be a helpful biomarker for teasing out these various contributions to risk. This article introduces a series of papers that resulted from an International Workshop held in May 2007 entitled 'Monoclonal B-cell Lymphocytosis and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Environmental and Genetic Risk Factors'. Research efforts, such as those described in this issue, should lead to improved interventions, more predictive biomarkers, more effective treatments, and a greater appreciation of how the immune system functions over the entire human lifespan.
authors.affiliation: Division of Health Studies, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Atlanta, GA, USA. YShim@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Youn K
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.forename: Sharon R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Silver
authors.forename: Neil E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Caporaso
authors.forename: Gerald E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Marti
authors.forename: Dannie C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Middleton
authors.forename: Martha S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Linet
authors.forename: Robert F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Vogt
mesh_terms: D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics; D008218:Lymphocytosis / Q000209:etiology; D010265:Paraproteinemias / Q000209:etiology; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors