Stereotypical chronic lymphocytic leukemia B-cell receptors recognize survival promoting antigens on stromal cells.

ABSTRACT: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common leukemia in the Western world. Survival of CLL cells depends on their close contact with stromal cells in lymphatic tissues, bone marrow and blood. This microenvironmental regulation of CLL cell survival involves the stromal secretion of chemo- and cytokines as well as the expression of adhesion molecules. Since CLL survival may also be driven by antigenic stimulation through the B-cell antigen receptor (BCR), we explored the hypothesis that these processes may be linked to each other. We tested if stromal cells could serve as an antigen reservoir for CLL cells, thus promoting CLL cell survival by stimulation through the BCR. As a proof of principle, we found that two CLL BCRs with a common stereotyped heavy chain complementarity-determ

SUBMITTER: Binder M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3012720 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature