Rinsho Shinkeigaku (Clinical Neurology)

The 43rd Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Neurology

Symposium III:
3) Molecular genetic analysis of malignant lymphoma

Satoshi Abe, M.D.

Department of Molecular Neuropathology, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University

A semi-nested polymerase chain reaction for the variable region of the immunoglobulin heavy and light chain genes (VH, Vκ and Vλ) was used to investigate the cell of origin and the clonal history in intravascular malignant lymphomatosis (IML), primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). A monoclonal band of VH and Vκ genes was detected in all cases of IML. A monoclonal band of VH was also detected in PCNSL and DLBCL. The nucleotide sequences of the VH and Vκ genes were determined. Numerous point mutations were present in all of the VH and Vκ genes. Ongoing mutation was observed in 3 of 5 IML cases, in 1 of 5 PCNSL and in 4 of 12 DLBCL. Because the process of immunoglobulin gene hypermutation is thought to occur at the germinal center (GC) stage of B cell development, these results suggest that IML, PCNSL and DLBCL are derived from GC B cells or their descendants. Using this reliable and sensitive method, a monoclonal band was detected in peripheral blood samples from 5 IML cases. The diagnosis of IML was confirmed by biopsies or autopsies in 4 cases. The sequences obtained from biopsied tissues and blood samples were found to be identical in each case in 3 cases examined.

(CLINICA NEUROL, 42: 1124|1126, 2002)
key words: malignant lymphoma, intravascular malignant lymphomatosis, primary central nervous system lymphoma, B-cell lymphoma, immunoglobulin gene rearrangement

(Received: 30-May-02)