Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 19, 2026

VDJ-Seq: Deep Sequencing Analysis of Rearranged Immunoglobulin Heavy Chain Gene to Reveal Clonal Evolution Patterns of B Cell Lymphoma
Published on: December 28, 2015
Bcl-2 gene rearrangement in Jordanian follicular and diffuse large B-cell lymphomas
Nidal M Almasri1, Jamil Al-Alami, Mohammad Faza
1Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, PO Box 3030, Irbid 22110, Jordan. nalmasri@yahoo.com
Objective:
Follicular lymphoma (FL), a common subtype of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in the West, represents a rare subtype in Jordan. Bcl-2 gene rearrangement plays a crucial role in the biology of the vast majority of FL and a substantial number of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in the West; but its presence has not been studied in Jordan. Our aims are to document if bcl-2 gene rearrangement exists in Jordanian FL and DLBCL, and if present to determine whether its frequency among these lymphomas is different from the West and therefore may be responsible for some of the epidemiological differences seen between Jordan and the West.
Methods:
The study was conducted in the year 2001 using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), to detect bcl-2 gene rearrangement in paraffin sections in 5 FL and 23 DLBCL cases diagnosed at the Department of Pathology at Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan. Two sets of primers including the major breakpoint region (MBR) and the minor cluster region (MCR) were used.
Results:
Amplifiable DNA was extracted from all cases. Bcl-2 gene rearrangement was seen among 4 (80%) of 5 FL cases, and 8 (35%) of 23 DLBCL cases. The majority of the rearrangements involved the MBR; however, one fourth of cases (one of 4 FL; 2 of 8 DLBCL) with bcl-2 rearrangement involved the MCR.
Conclusion:
Bcl-2 gene rearrangement was seen in the vast majority of Jordanian FL cases and approximately one third of all DLBCL cases. These figures are similar to those reported in the West, and therefore bcl-2 gene rearrangement does not help in explaining the epidemiological differences of NHL between Jordan and the West. The presence of bcl-2 gene rearrangement in DLBCL may define a subset of lymphomas that may be biologically and clinically unique and different from the rest of DLBCL.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell
The Retinoblastoma Gene
The first-ever tumor suppressor gene called Rb was identified in retinoblastoma - a rare eye tumor in children. In inherited forms of the disease, a child inherits one defective copy of the Rb gene, which predisposes them to retinoblastoma. However,...
Abnormal Proliferation
Lymphoid Cells and Tissues
Lymphoid cells consist of various types of immune system cells. These include B and T lymphocytes, which are responsible for producing antibodies and killing infected cells, respectively. Dendritic cells act as messengers between the innate and adaptive...
Primary Lymphoid Organs
The red bone marrow is a soft, spongy tissue nestled in the interior of long bones such as the humerus and femur. It is the site...
B Cell Activation and Differentiation
When naive B cells encounter a specific antigen that can bind to the B cell receptor (BCR) on their surface, they undergo sensitization to respond to the antigen's presence. Sensitization begins with...

