Abstract
Background: Monoclonal B cell lymphocytosis (MBL) is a preclinical condition characterized by an expansion of clonal B cells in the absence of B lymphocytosis (BALC <5 × 109/L) in the peripheral blood, without clinical signs, suggestive of a lymphoproliferative disorder. B cell clonal expansions are also associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and they can evolve into lymphoproliferative disorders such as mixed cryoglobulinemia and non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL). The relationship between MBL and HCV infection has not been established yet. Methods: By five-colour flow cytometry, we analyzed 123 HCV positive subjects with diagnosis of chronic hepatitis (94) or cirrhosis (29); 16 of those with cirrhosis had a diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Results: MBL were identified in 35/123 (28.5%), at significantly higher frequency than in the general population. Sixteen/thirty-five were atypical-chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) MBL (CD5+, CD20bright), 13/35 were CLL-like MBL (CD5 bright, CD20dim), and 6/35 were CD5- MBL. Twenty-four/ninety-four (25.5%) patients affected by chronic hepatitis had MBL, whereas 11/29 (37.9%) patients with cirrhosis showed a B cell clone. A biased usage of IGHVgenes similar to HCV-associated NHL was evident. Conclusions: All three types of MBL can be identified in HCV-infected individuals at a higher frequency than in the general population, and their presence appears to correlate with a more advanced disease stage. The phenotypic heterogeneity is reminiscent of the diversity of NHL arising in the context of HCV infection. The persistence of HCV may be responsible for the dysregulation of the immune system and in particular of the B cell compartment.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Cytometry Part B - Clinical Cytometry |
| Volume | 78 |
| Issue number | SUPPL. 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2010 |
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Keywords
- CLL
- HCV
- MBL
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Cell Biology
- Histology
- Pathology and Forensic Medicine
Cite this
Monoclonal B cell lymphocytosis in hepatitis C virus infected individuals. / Fazi, Claudia; Dagklis, Antonis; Cottini, Francesca; Scarfò, Lydia; Bertilaccio, Maria Teresa Sabrina; Finazzi, Renato; Memoli, Massimo; Ghia, Paolo.
In: Cytometry Part B - Clinical Cytometry, Vol. 78, No. SUPPL. 1, 2010.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Monoclonal B cell lymphocytosis in hepatitis C virus infected individuals
AU - Fazi, Claudia
AU - Dagklis, Antonis
AU - Cottini, Francesca
AU - Scarfò, Lydia
AU - Bertilaccio, Maria Teresa Sabrina
AU - Finazzi, Renato
AU - Memoli, Massimo
AU - Ghia, Paolo
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - Background: Monoclonal B cell lymphocytosis (MBL) is a preclinical condition characterized by an expansion of clonal B cells in the absence of B lymphocytosis (BALC <5 × 109/L) in the peripheral blood, without clinical signs, suggestive of a lymphoproliferative disorder. B cell clonal expansions are also associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and they can evolve into lymphoproliferative disorders such as mixed cryoglobulinemia and non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL). The relationship between MBL and HCV infection has not been established yet. Methods: By five-colour flow cytometry, we analyzed 123 HCV positive subjects with diagnosis of chronic hepatitis (94) or cirrhosis (29); 16 of those with cirrhosis had a diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Results: MBL were identified in 35/123 (28.5%), at significantly higher frequency than in the general population. Sixteen/thirty-five were atypical-chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) MBL (CD5+, CD20bright), 13/35 were CLL-like MBL (CD5 bright, CD20dim), and 6/35 were CD5- MBL. Twenty-four/ninety-four (25.5%) patients affected by chronic hepatitis had MBL, whereas 11/29 (37.9%) patients with cirrhosis showed a B cell clone. A biased usage of IGHVgenes similar to HCV-associated NHL was evident. Conclusions: All three types of MBL can be identified in HCV-infected individuals at a higher frequency than in the general population, and their presence appears to correlate with a more advanced disease stage. The phenotypic heterogeneity is reminiscent of the diversity of NHL arising in the context of HCV infection. The persistence of HCV may be responsible for the dysregulation of the immune system and in particular of the B cell compartment.
AB - Background: Monoclonal B cell lymphocytosis (MBL) is a preclinical condition characterized by an expansion of clonal B cells in the absence of B lymphocytosis (BALC <5 × 109/L) in the peripheral blood, without clinical signs, suggestive of a lymphoproliferative disorder. B cell clonal expansions are also associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and they can evolve into lymphoproliferative disorders such as mixed cryoglobulinemia and non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL). The relationship between MBL and HCV infection has not been established yet. Methods: By five-colour flow cytometry, we analyzed 123 HCV positive subjects with diagnosis of chronic hepatitis (94) or cirrhosis (29); 16 of those with cirrhosis had a diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Results: MBL were identified in 35/123 (28.5%), at significantly higher frequency than in the general population. Sixteen/thirty-five were atypical-chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) MBL (CD5+, CD20bright), 13/35 were CLL-like MBL (CD5 bright, CD20dim), and 6/35 were CD5- MBL. Twenty-four/ninety-four (25.5%) patients affected by chronic hepatitis had MBL, whereas 11/29 (37.9%) patients with cirrhosis showed a B cell clone. A biased usage of IGHVgenes similar to HCV-associated NHL was evident. Conclusions: All three types of MBL can be identified in HCV-infected individuals at a higher frequency than in the general population, and their presence appears to correlate with a more advanced disease stage. The phenotypic heterogeneity is reminiscent of the diversity of NHL arising in the context of HCV infection. The persistence of HCV may be responsible for the dysregulation of the immune system and in particular of the B cell compartment.
KW - CLL
KW - HCV
KW - MBL
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77956606983&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=77956606983&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/cyto.b.20545
DO - 10.1002/cyto.b.20545
M3 - Article
VL - 78
JO - Cytometry Part B - Clinical Cytometry
JF - Cytometry Part B - Clinical Cytometry
SN - 1552-4949
IS - SUPPL. 1
ER -