IgVH Gene Usage in CLL Patients

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Brief communication

VH3–48 and VH3–53, as well as VH3–21, gene rearrangements define

unique subgroups in CLL and are associated with biased lambda light

chain restriction, homologous LCDR3 sequences and poor prognosis

sa, b, Mark A. Catherwooda, T.C.M. `Curly' a

and H. Denis a, b, ,

aDepartment of Haematology, Level C, Belfast City Hospital, Belfast,

Northern Ireland, UK

bSchool of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine,

Northern Ireland, UK

Received 13 March 2006; revised 29 March 2006; accepted 31 March

2006. Available online 22 May 2006.

Abstract

This study determined IgVH gene usage in 228 chronic lymphocytic

leukaemia patients to investigate associations between gene usage

and other biological or clinical characteristics.

VH3–48 [N = 8] and VH3–53 [N = 4] gene rearrangements showed biased

ë light chain restriction and were predominantly found in female

patients with short lymphocyte doubling time but without adverse

prognosis cytogenetics.

Overuse of VL3–21(Vë2–14) gene and highly homologous LCDR3 sequences

were found in VH3–48 patients.

VH3–21 gene usage [N = 18, 7.9%] was associated with poor prognosis,

overuse of VL3–21(Vë2–14) gene and highly homologous heavy- and

light-chain CDR3 sequences, but was not associated with poor

prognosis chromosomal aberrations.