Persistent polyclonal B lymphocytosis: an expansion of cells showing IgVH gene mutations and phenotypic features of normal lymphocytes from the CD27+ marginal zone B-cell compartment

Br J Haematol. 2002 Mar;116(3):662-6. doi: 10.1046/j.0007-1048.2001.03327.x.

Abstract

Persistent polyclonal B-cell lymphocytosis (PPBL) is an unusual and benign lymphoproliferation characterized by a polyclonal expansion of B lymphocytes, whose nature remains undetermined. The phenotypic analysis of three cases revealed that these cells were CD27+ IgM(high) CD21(high) CD5(low) and CD23(low), a phenotype associated with the normal marginal zone (MZ) B-cell compartment. As MZ B cells have initiated immunoglobulin (Ig)V gene somatic mutations, PPBL IgVH genes were sequenced. An average of 73% of these sequences were mutated. The mean number of mutation per sequence was 6.9, a number similar to those observed in the MZ B-cell compartment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • B-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
  • Cell Division / immunology
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Genes, Immunoglobulin / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Lymphocytosis / genetics
  • Lymphocytosis / immunology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Mutation*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7 / analysis*

Substances

  • Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7