IGH 3'RR recombination uncovers a non-germinal center imprint and c-MYC-dependent IGH rearrangement in unmutated chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Haematologica. 2024 Feb 1;109(2):466-478. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2023.282897.

Abstract

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is an incurable indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma characterized by tumor B cells that weakly express a B-cell receptor. The mutational status of the variable region (IGHV) within the immunoglobulin heavy chain (IGH) locus is an important prognosis indicator and raises the question of the CLL cell of origin. Mutated IGHV gene CLL are genetically imprinted by activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID). AID is also required for IGH rearrangements: class switch recombination and recombination between switch Mu (Sμ) and the 3' regulatory region (3'RR) (Sμ-3'RRrec). The great majority of CLL B cells being unswitched led us to examine IGH rearrangement blockade in CLL. Our results separated CLL into two groups on the basis of Sμ-3'RRrec counts per sample: Sμ-3'RRrecHigh cases (mostly unmutated CLL) and Sμ-3'RRrecLow cases (mostly mutated CLL), but not based on the class switch recombination junction counts. Sμ-3'RRrec appeared to be ongoing in Sμ-3'RRrecHigh CLL cells and comparison of Sμ-3'RRrec junction structural features pointed to different B-cell origins for both groups. In accordance with IGHV mutational status and PIM1 mutation rate, Sμ-3'RRrecHigh CLL harbor a non-germinal center experienced B-cell imprint while Sμ-3'RRrecLow CLL are from AID-experienced B cells from a secondary lymphoid organ. In addition to the proposals already made concerning the CLL cell of origin, our study highlights that analysis of IGH recombinatory activity can identify CLL cases from different origins. Finally, on-going Sμ-3'RRrec in Sμ-3'RRrecHigh cells appeared to presumably be the consequence of high c-MYC expression, as c-MYC overexpression potentiated IGH rearrangements and Sμ-3'RRrec, even in the absence of AID for the latter.

MeSH terms

  • B-Lymphocytes / pathology
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / genetics
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell* / genetics
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell* / pathology
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / genetics
  • Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid

Substances

  • Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell

Grants and funding

Funding: This work was supported by grants to SP from la Ligue Contre le Cancer (Comité de la Haute-Vienne, CD87), the Fondation ARC pour la Recherche sur le Cancer (ARCP-JA2022060005138), the INCa-Cancéropôle GSO (Emergence program no. 2019-E11) and grants to CRIBL laboratory from the Institut CARNOT CALYM. IAJ is supported by Fondation pour la Recherche Medicale and Lebanese associations (AZM and Saade, LASeR). MP is supported by Région Nouvelle Aquitaine and Université de Limoges. KG is supported by Région Nouvelle Aquitaine and Délégation INSERM Nouvelle Aquitaine. JP is supported by the Institut CARNOT CALYM. SP is a National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM) investigator.