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Altered expression of the retinoblastoma susceptibility gene in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
Author(s) -
Neubauer Andreas,
Kant Eric de,
Rochlitz Christoph,
Laser Jutta,
Zanetta Ana Maria,
Gallardo Jorge,
Oertel Joachim,
Herrmann Richard,
Huhn Dieter
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2141.1993.tb03339.x
Subject(s) - retinoblastoma , biology , gene , chronic lymphocytic leukemia , gene expression , microbiology and biotechnology , pathogenesis , retinoblastoma protein , cancer research , immunology , genetics , leukemia , cell cycle
Summary. The pathogenesis of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is unknown. One of the most frequent cytogenetic abnormalities in CLL is a deletion within the long arm of chromosome 13, the region to which the retinoblastoma (Rb) gene has been mapped. Lack of Rb expression has been linked to the carcinogenic process in many human tumours. We therefore sought to investigate the role of Rb gene inactiva‐tion in CLL using differential polymerase chain reaction on reverse transcribed RNA. The result of the PCR was quanti‐tated using HPLC. 5/39 patients revealed a lack or significantly impaired expression of the Rb gene upon differential PCR analysis. In addition, immunocytochemical studies were performed using the Rb‐specific monoclonal antibody PMG245. 10/56 patients showed a weak or absent expression upon immunocytochemical analysis compared to monocytes or granulocytes. The samples lacking Rb were from both early and late stage CLL. Our results indicate that inactivation of the Rb protein occurs in a fraction of CLL cases and can be found in early and late stages of the disease.