Lower levels of surface B-cell-receptor expression in chronic lymphocytic leukemia are associated with glycosylation and folding defects of the mu and CD79a chains.

Low levels of B-cell-receptor (BCR) expression are the hallmark of tumoral B lymphocytes in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL). These cells also respond inadequately to stimulation through the BCR. This receptor consists of a surface immunoglobulin associated with a CD79a/CD79b heterodimer.

Different isoforms of BSAP regulate expression of AID in normal and chronic lymphocytic leukemia B cells.

Activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) is key to initiating somatic hypermutation (SHM) and class switch recombination (CSR), but its mode of action and regulation remains unclear. Since Pax-5 and Id-2 transcription factors play an opposing role in AID regulation, we have studied the expression of Pax-5, Id-2, and prdm-1 genes in 54 chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) B cells. In 21 cases, presence of AID is constantly associated with high expression of the complete form of the Pax-5 gene (Pax-5a) and lower expression of the Id-2 and prdm-1 transcripts.

hTERT expression and prognosis in B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Background: In B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL), there is a need for molecular markers to predict the evolution of this heterogeneous disease in individual patients. The level of expression of the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene has been associated with disease aggressiveness in human cancers. The purpose of the present study was to examine the prognostic significance of hTERT expression in B-CLL.