Biological and clinical significance of stereotyped B-cell receptors in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

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BlankHaematologica, Vol 95, Issue 12, 1992-1995 doi:10.3324/haematol.2010.033241

Biological and clinical significance of stereotyped B-cell receptors in chronic

lymphocytic leukemia

e Rossi, Gianluca Gaidano

Division of Hematology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine and

IRCAD, Amedeo Avogadro University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, Italy, E-mail:

gaidano@...

The B-cell receptor (BCR) is the hallmark of mature B cells and is expressed by

many B-cell malignancies. BCR involvement in B-cell neoplasia occurs through two

major mechanisms: (i) constitutive activation through somatically acquired

genetic lesions of BCR signaling components; and (ii) BCR signaling induced by

foreign or auto-antigens providing proliferative and anti-apoptotic signals to

neoplastic B cells (Figure 1). These two mechanisms of BCR involvement

preferentially associate with aggressive and indolent B-cell malignancies,

respectively. Genetic lesions targeting BCR signaling components, namely CD79A,

CD79B and CARD11, are detectable in a substantial fraction of diffuse large

B-cell lymphomas, whereas they are exceptional in indolent disorders, including

chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).1 Evidence for selection and stimulation of

the B-cell clone through the BCR has been gained for several indolent B-cell

malignancies, including CLL, whereas such evidence is scant in aggressive B-cell

lymphoma.2

Full text with Figures and charts

http://www.haematologica.org/cgi/content/full/95/12/1992?ct=ct