IMMUNOGLOBULIN GENE REARRANGEMENTS IN HAIRY-CELL LEUKEMIA

  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 64  (1) , 99-104
Abstract
Studies of [human] hairy cell leukemia have yielded conflicting data about the cell of origin in this disease. To investigate this issue, the state of Ig genes was examined in the cells of 11 randomly selected spleens showing histologic involvement with hairy cell leukemia. DNA was extracted from splenic tissue samples and digested with restriction endonucleases. Following agarose gel electrophoresis and transfer to nitrocellulose filters or activated nylon membranes, splenic DNA was hybridized with radiolabeled DNA fragment probes specific for the constant regions of the Ig heavy chain and .KAPPA. and .lambda. light chain genes. Autoradiograms of the hybridized DNA in each case revealed rearrangements of a heavy chain gene and at least 1 light chain gene. Immunophenotyping of cellular Ig polypeptides was carried out on frozen tissue sections from all but 1 case. In each case in which an Ig polypeptide could be detected, a rearrangement was present in the DNA of the corresponding Ig gene. Strong evidence was offered for endogenous Ig synthesis in hairy cells and for the B lymphocytic character of this leukemia.