PMID: 9528188Apr 7, 1998Paper

Analysis of expression of the molecules Igalpha and Igbeta in human pro-B leukemic lines

Bulletin de l'Académie nationale de médecine
K LassouedK Benlagha

Abstract

Ig alpha and Ig beta are two glycosylated transmembrane proteins of the Ig superfamily that are encoded by the B cell-specific genes mb-1 and B29, respectively. Ig alpha/Ig beta heterodimers may associate with the mu/surrogate light chains (psi LC) complex and with membrane Immunoglobulins on the surface of pre-B and B cells, respectively. They play a crucial role in the signal transduction that follows pre-B and B cell receptor cross-linking. Previous works have shown that mb-1 and B29 transcripts are expressed in normal mouse and human pro-B cells. However, little is known about the expression of Ig alpha and Ig beta molecules in pro-B cells. To address this issue we first analysed the expression of the Ig alpha and Ig beta molecules in the RS4; 11 and Nalm16 human pro-B cell lines using specific monoclonal antibodies. We found that both cell lines expressed Ig alpha and Ig beta but this expression was limited to the cytoplasm compartment. Three forms (44, 40 and 36 kDa) of the Ig alpha molecule and a single form (36 kDa) of the Ig beta molecule were detected in these lines. The heterogeneity of the Ig alpha molecule was partly related to the presence of a truncated Ig alpha protein which is likely the product of a short mb-1...Continue Reading

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