Detection of abundantly transcribed genes and gene translocation in human immunodeficiency virus-associated non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Several novel, differentially transcribed genes were identified in one cent roblastic and one immunoblastic HIV-associated B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphom a (B-NHL) by subtractive cloning. In both lymphomas, we detected an upregul ated transcription of several mitochondrial genes. In the centroblastic B-N HL, we found a high level transcription of nuclear genes including the inte rferon-inducible gene (INF-ind), the immunoglobulin light chain gene (IgL), the set oncogene, and several unknown genes. The data obtained on upregula ted expression of the genes in human B-NHL of HIV-infected patients conside rably overlap with those obtained earlier for the B-NHL of simian immunodef iciency virus-infected monkeys. In the centroblastic lymphoma, one transcri pt revealed a fusion of the 3'-untranslated region of the set gene and the C-terminal region of the IgL gene. This chimeric sequence was confirmed by a site-directed polymerase chain reaction performed with total cDNA and gen omic DNA. The expected amplification product was obtained in both cases poi nting to a genomic rearrangement, The IgL-set fusion sequence was not found in cDNA preparations and genomic DNA of the immunoblastic HIV-associated B -NHL, Further studies are necessary to determine whether these genes contri bute to lymphoma development or can be used as therapeutic targets.