Identification, characterisation and regulation by CD40 activation of novel CD95 splice variants in CD95-apoptosis-resistant, human, B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

CD95 gene and splicing aberrations have been detected in B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL) where they are thought to contribute to CD95 apoptosis resistance. To further investigate this, we have performed extensive CD95 transcript sequencing and functional analysis in B-NHL with demonstrated resistance to CD95-induced apoptosis (B-NHLr). Strikingly, instead of showing CD95 mutations per se, B cells from B-NHLr co-expressed wild-type and multiple, normal (CD95nv) and novel alternatively spliced variant CD95 transcripts (CD95av).