[Expression of immunoglobulin genes and T lymphocyte antigen receptors in a case of acute lymphatic leukemia]

Abstract

Molecular genetic analysis was performed on DNA extracted from blast cells of a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. While k light chain genes were in a germ line configuration rearranged bands were found using both JH and TCR beta probes, thus making a lineage diagnosis uncertain. Northern blot analysis showed that both mu heavy chain and TCR beta chain genes were transcribed in blast cells; TCR beta gene, however, gave a truncated transcript whereas Ig heavy chain gene cluster produced a full length mu mRNA. These data show that the accuracy of lineage diagnosis can be improved if expression studies are performed in association with molecular genetic analysis.