Immunoglobulin heavy chain gene rearrangement and transcription in murine T cell hybrids and T lymphomas.

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Abstract
The arrangement of IgH chain constant (CH) and joining (JH) region genes in murine T cell hybrid lines and in T lymphomas was examined. CH genes derived from both parental cell types were present in all hybrids for which polymorphism in sequences flanking CH genes permitted differentiation of parental CH genes. All T lymphomas and T cell hybrids retained the C.alpha. gene in germ-line configuration and all but 1 cell line had germ-line C.mu. genes. Novel DNA fragments reactive with JH probes were observed in 6 of 9 T cell hybrids, and in 2 T lymphomas, WEH17.1 and YAC-1, but not in the fusion parent, BW5147. No RNA homologous to C.gamma.2b, C.alpha. or .lambda. genes was detected in any of the T cell lines. T cell lines contained poly(A)+ RNA homologous to a C.mu. c[complementary]DNA probe. In several cell lines the C.mu. RNA species were associated with membrane-bound polyribosomes. Both JH rearrangements and C.mu. RNA production apparently occur in at least some mature, antigen-specific T cells. They may reflect events in normal T cell development and may be involved in the generation of the T receptors for antigens.