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Updated: Apr 22, 2026

Immunoglobulin Gene Sequence Analysis In Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: From Patient Material To Sequence Interpretation
Published on: November 26, 2018
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and its relationship to normal B lymphopoiesis
1Department of Immunology, St. George's Hospital Medical School, London SW17 ORE, U.K.
Insights
Leukaemic cells in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia are not virgin B lymphocytes but an intermediate cell stage. This previously unrecognised cell type is found between pre-B cells and mature B lymphocytes.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Hematology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) cells were traditionally considered circulating virgin B lymphocytes.
- This classification has been based on long-held assumptions rather than comprehensive analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To re-evaluate the developmental stage of leukaemic cells in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.
- To challenge the established view of CLL cells as simply virgin B lymphocytes.
Main Methods:
- Accumulation and analysis of structural data from leukaemic cells.
- Functional analyses of leukaemic cells.
Main Results:
- Leukaemic cells exhibit characteristics intermediate between pre-B cells and mature B lymphocytes.
- This intermediate stage is not typically observed in normal circulation.
Conclusions:
- The leukaemic cells in CLL represent a distinct, non-circulating developmental stage.
- This finding necessitates a revision of the understanding of CLL pathogenesis and B cell development.
Abstract:
The leukaemic cells from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia have long been thought to represent circulating virgin B lymphocytes. In this article Alan Johnstone discusses the accumulated data from structural and functional analyses which place the leukaemic cells at a stage intermediate between the pre-B cell and mature B lymphocyte, a stage not normally found in the circulation.
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