Immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region family expression in primary cutaneous follicle centre cell lymphomas

Primary cutaneous follicle centre cell lymphomas (PCFCCL) are the most common type of primary cutaneous B-cell lymphomas. Patients with this disorder develop one or a few clinically indolent tumour nodules, plaques, or papules confined to a circumscribed area. Only limited data have so far been published on the use of immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region (VH) families by these tumours.

Because the definition of the repertoire of VH genes could have significant biological and diagnostic implications, we evaluated a group of patients with PCFCCL for VH family use.

DNA obtained from 15 cases of PCFCCL was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using a panel of VH family-specific amplimers.

The pattern of VH family usage was similar to that reported in both normal peripheral blood B cells and the most common low grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, where VH region utilization is essentially random with frequent usage of the VH3 family.

These findings support the hypothesis that PCFCCL may derive from the mature peripheral lymphoid compartment. Our results may also have implications for the routine analysis of B-lymphoid clonality in PCFCCL.