Objective: To investigate the significance of immunoglobulin germline gene C mu expression in leukemias.
Methods: Immunoglobulin germline gene C mu transcripts in 63 bone marrow samples from 59 leukemia patients were examined by RT-PCR.
Results: Germline C mu transcripts could be identified in 17 of 26 AML, 9 of 12 ALL, 4 CML-BC and 2 CLL patients. HLA-DR was expressed in 80% C mu(+) patients and in 92.9% C mu(+) AML patients. In 10 normal bone marrow or peripheral blood samples C mu transcripts were undetectable.
Conclusion: Leukemogenesis in most acute leukemia may originate from the common progenitors of early B-lymphoid and myeloid cells.