Immunoglobulin/Myc recombinations in Murine Peyer's patch follicles

Abstract

Immunoglobulin heavy chain (Igh)/Myc recombinations are a hallmark of pristane-induced mouse plasmacytomas but are also frequently found in non-tumorous tissues. Here we describe for the first time a PCR-based technique for detecting fusions between Igh mu or Igh alpha and Myc in situ. Igh/Myc recombinations were found in transplanted and primary plasmacytomas. In addition, the gut-associated lymphoid tissues of plasmacytoma-free BALB/c mice were investigated for the presence of Igh/Myc fusions. Igh/Myc rearrangements were detected in Peyer's patch follicles and in the intestinal lamina propria both in normal mice and in mice shortly after pristane treatment. The sequence analysis showed that i) three to five different Igh/Myc hybrid sequences were present in individual follicles, ii) Igh/Myc recombinations can be subjected to additional switch recombinations as shown by related sequences in neighboring cells, and iii) cells harboring these rearrangements migrate into the adjacent lamina propria. The results indicate that Peyer's patches are a hyper-recombinogenic tissue. Myc recombination-positive cells are present in at least 100-fold more frequently than expected if recombinations were random, which suggests that this kind of trans-chromosomal rearrangement may be targeted.