Favored use of immunoglobulin V(H)4 Genes in AIDS-associated B-cell lymphoma

Abstract

We examined the lg heavy chain variable region genes (Ig V(H) genes) expressed in biopsy specimens of 10 patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-associated lymphoma. Eight expressed Ig V(H) genes of the V(H)4 group, indicating a bias toward expression of Ig V(H) genes of this subgroup. Sequence analyses of Ig V(H) genes isolated from any one lymphoma did not reveal evidence for intraclonal diversity. However, some lymphomas express Ig V(H) genes that apparently have undergone somatic diversification and selection. In addition, we found that the sequence encoding each examined third complementarity determining region most likely resulted from D-D fusion, a process that ordinarily contributes to the generation of a relatively small proportion of the Ig heavy chain genes expressed by normal adult B cells. The noted restriction in the use of Ig V(H) genes by AIDS-associated B-cell lymphomas suggests that antigenic stimulation contributes to lymphomagenesis in patients with AIDS.

Incidence of novel N‐glycosylation sites in the B‐cell receptor of lymphomas associated with immunodeficiency

“…The other sequences belonged to the V H 1 family in four and V H 5 in two cases, with a single case using V H 6. The frequent usage of the V H 4 family confirms previous observations (Bessudo et al , 1996). Novel potential N‐glycosylation sites were identified in a large fraction of AIDS‐NHL, with 44% of cases bearing sites (Table I).…”

Utility of microdissection and polymerase chain reaction for the detection of immunoglobulin gene rearrangement and translocation in primary intraocular lymphoma

“…36 Rearrangements of IgH genes, particularly in the V H segment, have also been reported in AIDS-associated lymphoma. 39,40 PCR amplifies the presence and precise location of a neoplastic mutation: the aberrant IgH gene rearrangement in lymphoma. This highly sensitive molecular technique requires only small quantities of DNA that may be partially degraded, such as that extracted from paraffinembedded tissues.…”

Epstein-Barr Virus Associated Polymorphic Lymphoproliferative Disorders Occurring in Nontransplant Settings

“…EBV-associated lymphomas usually occur many years after the primary EBV infection, which indicates the need for secondary transforming events. Reactivation and proliferation of EBV-infected B-cells, as frequently seen in immunocompromised patients, may result in the accumulation of genetic lesions that lead to a neoplastic transformation of the affected clones (Bessudo et al, 1996;Jain et al, 1994;Kuppers et al, 1994). Although the oncogenic role of LMP-1 is well documented (Wang et al, 1985;Wang et al 1990), the exact functions of this and the other EBV-encoded proteins are only now being elucidated.…”