Progressive immunoglobulin gene mutations in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: evidence for antigen-driven intraclonal diversification.

Publication/Presentation Date

2-15-2007

Abstract

Somatic mutations of immunoglobulin genes characterize mature memory B cells, and intraclonal B-cell diversification is typically associated with expansion of B-cell clones with greater affinity for antigen (antigen drive). Evidence for a role of antigen in progression of intraclonal chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cell diversification in patients with mutated immunoglobulin genes has not been previously presented. We performed a single-cell analysis of immunoglobulin heavy and light chains in 6 patients with somatically mutated CLL-cell immunoglobulin genes and identified 2 patients with multiple related (oligoclonal) subgroups of CLL cells. We constructed genealogic trees of these oligoclonal CLL-cell subgroups and assessed the effects of immunoglobulin somatic mutations on the ratios of replacement and silent amino acid changes in the framework and antigen-binding regions (CDRs) of the immunoglobulin heavy and light chains from each oligoclonal CLL-cell population. In one subject, the amino acid changes were consistent with an antigen-driven progression of clonally related CLL-cell populations. In the other subject, intraclonal diversification was associated with immunoglobulin amino acid changes that would have likely lessened antigen affinity. Taken together, these studies support the hypothesis that in some CLL cases intraclonal diversification is dependent on antigen interactions with immunoglobulin receptors.

Volume

109

Issue

4

First Page

1559

Last Page

1567

ISSN

0006-4971

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

PubMedID

17082314

Department(s)

Fellows and Residents

Document Type

Article

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