IMMUNOGLOBULIN AND GLUCOSE-6-PHOSPHATE DEHYDROGENASE AS MARKERS OF CELLULAR ORIGIN IN BURKITT LYMPHOMA

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Two independent marker systems, G-6-PD isoenzymes and cell membrane-associated IgM, were used to trace the cellular origin of Burkitt lymphoma. Application of the G-6-PD system is dependent upon the fact that, in accordance with inactivity of one X chromosome in each somatic cell, females heterozygous for the usual B gene (GdB) at the X-linked G-6-PD locus and the variant allele GdA (or GdA-) have two types of cells. GdB is active in one cell population, which consequently produces B type enzyme; in the other population GdA is active, producing the variant A enzyme. Therefore, tumors with a clonal origin in a GdB/GdA heterozygote should exhibit only one enzyme type (B or A) whereas those with multicellular origin may show both A and B enzymes. Utilization of the immunoglobulin system is based upon the supposition that in lymphoid neoplasms with clonal origin either all or none of the tumor cells should have surface-associated IgM and κ-reactivities.