Rearranged patterns of IgH and TcRY genes in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Abstract

The rearrangement of immunoglobulin heavy chain gene (IgH) and T cell receptor γ gene (TcRγ) was studied in 30 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). 19 cases was found to have rearrangement of IgH gene, 12 of TcRγ. Most of IgH rearrangement was characterized by one or two specific bands while some had more than two. Rearrangement of TcRγ gene appeared as one specific band. A slight difference in number, size and lightness of bands was found among the patients. 4 different kinds of rearrangement were observed in the detection of IgH rearrangement in combination with TcRγ gene. The rearranged patterns of IgH and TcRγ gene as well as the clinical significance were discussed.

Keywords

acute lymphoblastic leukemia / immunoglobulin heavy chain gene / T cell receptor γ gene / polymerase chain reaction