title: [Rearrangement of immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region genes in human neonates].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the rearrangement of immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy chain variable region (V(H)) genes in human neonates with different gestational ages (GA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Peripheral blood from the neonates with GA of 27 weeks (4 cases), 28-32 weeks (9 cases), 33-36 weeks (12 cases), and 37-42 weeks (13 cases) was collected. RT-PCR was used to amplify the Ig V(H) gene, and the PCR products were separated by electrophoresis and analyzed using 6% denaturing PAGE gel.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All Ig V(H) family genes had several rearranged genes in each GA group, and the neonates with different GA showed no significant difference in the median molecular weight for each rearranged Ig V(H) family gene.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The neonates with GA of 27-42 weeks exhibit diversity in Ig V(H) gene rearrangement, and for the same Ig V(H) family, the median length of the arranged Ig V(H) genes is independent of the gestational age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China. xjamao@tom.com
authors.forename: Xiao-jian
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Ai-hua
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: Xin-hua
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Qian
mesh_terms: D015321:Gene Rearrangement; D050438:Genes, Immunoglobulin Heavy Chain; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000235:genetics*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D005810:Multigene Family; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region