Differential expression of CD 180 and IgM by B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia cells using mutated and unmutated immunoglobulin VH genes

• Published in: British journal of haematology Vol. 131; no. 3; pp. 313 - 319
• Main Authors: Porakishvili, N, Kulikova, N, Jewell, A P, Youinou, P Y, Yong, K, Nathwani, A, Heelan, B, Duke, V, Hamblin, T J, Wallace, P, Ely, P, Clark, E A, Lydyard, P M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.11.2005
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antigens, CD - blood; Biomarkers, Tumor - blood; Genes, Immunoglobulin; Humans; Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains - genetics; Immunoglobulin M - blood; Immunophenotyping; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell - genetics; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell - immunology; Middle Aged; Mutation
• ISSN: 0007-1048

We have studied the surface expression of the Toll-like receptor family member CD 180 on cells from 78 patients with B-chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL). B-CLL cells had variable levels of CD 180 expression, but this was always less than that expressed by normal blood B cells and was stable for 24 months. Significantly higher levels of CD 180 were expressed by B-CLL cells with mutated IGVH genes compared with those using unmutated IGVH genes. This was in contrast to the higher levels of expression of surface immunoglobulin M by B-CLL cells using unmutated, rather than mutated IGVH genes. CD 180 was functional on B-CLL cells from some of the patients, as shown by the increased expression of CD 86 following incubation in vitro with anti-CD 180. The differential expression of CD 180 amongst B-CLL patients is one more marker that may define more precisely the different biological properties of this heterogeneous disease.