Human immunoglobulin κ light-chain genes are deleted or rearranged in λ-producing B cells

Abstract
Ten human .lambda. light-chain-producing B lymphocytes were examined. Genes for the .kappa. constant region were deleted in each. Only 1 of the 20 possible .kappa. alleles in these cells was retained, and even this exception is rearranged. .lambda. constant region genes remain in the germ-line configuration in each of the 8 .kappa. light-chain-producing human B lymphocytes examined. A hierarchy of light-chain-gene rearrangement beginning with .kappa. and proceeding to .lambda. is suggested.