Biomaterial Database

Immunoglobulin gene rearrangement in multiple myeloma: limitations of Southern blot analysis. 1991

J E Humphries, and H K Dressman, and M E Williams

Department of Internal Medicine, University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, Charlottesville 22908.

Thirty-six patients with early and advanced multiple myeloma were investigated with Southern blot analysis to determine the presence of immunoglobulin gene rearrangement as evidence of clonality. Rearrangements were not uniformly found, being detected in only 14 of 19 patients with newly diagnosed myeloma and in 15 of 17 cases of clinically advanced myeloma. A correlation between percentage of bone marrow plasma cells and detection of immunoglobulin gene rearrangement was noted; however, in four cases of early myeloma with > 10% marrow plasma cells, no rearrangement was found. These results suggest that Southern blot analysis may not be an optimal method for the determination of clonality in plasma cell dyscrasias or, alternatively, that a proportion of the plasma cells found on bone marrow examination in some patients with early myeloma may not be monoclonal.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D009101	Multiple Myeloma	A malignancy of mature PLASMA CELLS engaging in monoclonal immunoglobulin production. It is characterized by hyperglobulinemia, excess Bence-Jones proteins (free monoclonal IMMUNOGLOBULIN LIGHT CHAINS) in the urine, skeletal destruction, bone pain, and fractures. Other features include ANEMIA; HYPERCALCEMIA; and RENAL INSUFFICIENCY.	Myeloma, Plasma-Cell,Kahler Disease,Myeloma, Multiple,Myeloma-Multiple,Myelomatosis,Plasma Cell Myeloma,Cell Myeloma, Plasma,Cell Myelomas, Plasma,Disease, Kahler,Multiple Myelomas,Myeloma Multiple,Myeloma, Plasma Cell,Myeloma-Multiples,Myelomas, Multiple,Myelomas, Plasma Cell,Myelomas, Plasma-Cell,Myelomatoses,Plasma Cell Myelomas,Plasma-Cell Myeloma,Plasma-Cell Myelomas
D010950	Plasma Cells	Specialized forms of antibody-producing B-LYMPHOCYTES. They synthesize and secrete immunoglobulin. They are found only in lymphoid organs and at sites of immune responses and normally do not circulate in the blood or lymph. (Rosen et al., Dictionary of Immunology, 1989, p169 & Abbas et al., Cellular and Molecular Immunology, 2d ed, p20)	Plasmacytes,Cell, Plasma,Cells, Plasma,Plasma Cell,Plasmacyte
D001853	Bone Marrow	The soft tissue filling the cavities of bones. Bone marrow exists in two types, yellow and red. Yellow marrow is found in the large cavities of large bones and consists mostly of fat cells and a few primitive blood cells. Red marrow is a hematopoietic tissue and is the site of production of erythrocytes and granular leukocytes. Bone marrow is made up of a framework of connective tissue containing branching fibers with the frame being filled with marrow cells.	Marrow,Red Marrow,Yellow Marrow,Marrow, Bone,Marrow, Red,Marrow, Yellow
D005260	Female		Females
D005803	Genes, Immunoglobulin	Genes encoding the different subunits of the IMMUNOGLOBULINS, for example the IMMUNOGLOBULIN LIGHT CHAIN GENES and the IMMUNOGLOBULIN HEAVY CHAIN GENES. The heavy and light immunoglobulin genes are present as gene segments in the germline cells. The completed genes are created when the segments are shuffled and assembled (B-LYMPHOCYTE GENE REARRANGEMENT) during B-LYMPHOCYTE maturation. The gene segments of the human light and heavy chain germline genes are symbolized V (variable), J (joining) and C (constant). The heavy chain germline genes have an additional segment D (diversity).	Genes, Ig,Immunoglobulin Genes,Gene, Ig,Gene, Immunoglobulin,Ig Gene,Ig Genes,Immunoglobulin Gene
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000368	Aged	A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available.	Elderly
D000369	Aged, 80 and over	Persons 80 years of age and older.	Oldest Old