Stereotyped subset #1 chronic lymphocytic leukemia: a direct link between B-cell receptor structure, function, and patients' prognosis

Am J Hematol. 2014 Jan;89(1):74-82. doi: 10.1002/ajh.23591.

Abstract

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with stereotyped B-cell receptor (BCR) belonging to subset #1 (IGHV1-5-7/ IGKV1-39) display a poor outcome. To characterize their genetic and genomic features and BCR function, we selected 20 subset #1 CLL from a series of 579 cases. Subset #1 CLL, all showing unmutated IGHV, were associated with the presence of del(11q) (50%) in comparison with unmutated CLL, unmutated stereotyped CLL other than subset #1 and with cases using the same IGHV genes but a heterogeneous VH CDR3 (non-subset #1 CLL). There were no distinctive features regarding CD38, ZAP-70, and TP53 disruption. NOTCH1, SF3B1, and BIRC3 were mutated in 15%, 0%, and 5% of cases, respectively, while BIRC3 was deleted in 22% of cases. Microarray unsupervised analysis on 80 unmutated/mutated/stereotyped/non-stereotyped CLL showed a tight clustering of subset #1 cases. Their genomic signature exhibited several differentially expressed transcripts involved in BCR signal transduction, apoptosis regulation, cell proliferation, and oxidative processes, regardless of del(11q). Accordingly, BCR ligation with anti-IgM revealed a significant higher proliferation of subset #1 versus unmutated non-subset #1 CLL, both at baseline and after 24–48 hr stimulation. Subset #1 CLL represent a paradigmatic example of the direct link between BCR structure, function, and patients prognosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / chemistry
  • Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / genetics
  • Immunoglobulin Variable Region / chemistry
  • Immunoglobulin Variable Region / genetics
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / genetics*
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / metabolism
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / mortality*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / genetics*
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / metabolism
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Signal Transduction
  • Transcriptome

Substances

  • Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains
  • Immunoglobulin Variable Region
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell