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HCV‐associated B cell clonalities in the liver do not carry the t(14;18) chromosomal translocation
Author(s) -
Sansonno Domenico,
Tucci Felicia Anna,
De Re Valli,
Lauletta Gianfranco,
Montrone Michele,
Libra Massimo,
Dammacco Franco
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.488
H-Index - 361
eISSN - 1527-3350
pISSN - 0270-9139
DOI - 10.1002/hep.20887
Subject(s) - biology , liver biopsy , chromosomal translocation , laser capture microdissection , biopsy , polymerase chain reaction , hepatitis c virus , lymphoproliferative disorders , pathology , lymphoma , microbiology and biotechnology , hepatology , microdissection , antibody , virology , virus , gene , immunology , medicine , gene expression , biochemistry
Infection with HCV can be associated with B‐cell non‐Hodgkin lymphoma. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification assays for Bcl‐2 /IgH rearrangement were performed on nucleic acids extracted from portal tract inflammatory infiltrates, isolated with laser capture microdissection (LCM), from liver biopsy sections of 16 hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐infected patients with and without extrahepatic B cell–related disorders. Results were compared with total DNA extracted from core liver biopsy specimens and from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). We failed to demonstrate specific Bcl‐2 /IgH amplicons either in liver tissue or in PBMCs in all patients of the current series. Multiple PCR assays for variable diversity joining (VDJ) IgH gene rearrangements were also performed in the liver compartment. Selective amplification compatible with mono or oligoclonal B cell clonotypes was demonstrated in 80% (6/8) and 25% (2/8) of patients with and without clinical evidence of B‐cell disorders. V H 1 and V H 3 were the most represented V H families. In situ expression of Bcl‐2 protein was carried out by immunohistochemistry on liver biopsy sections. Bcl‐2 protein was detected in 2 (12.5%) patients who did not associate extrahepatic disorders. In conclusion , current data support the concept that production of IgH gene rearrangements is not associated with Bcl‐2 /IgH chromosomal translocation in hepatic compartment. Liver overexpression of Bcl‐2 protein may occur in at least a minor proportion of HCV‐infected patients. (H EPATOLOGY 2005.)