Objective: To evaluate the frequency and mutation status of IgVH gene expression in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in China.
Methods: IgVH mutation was detected by multiplex PCR and directly sequencing in 29 CLL patients. IgH somatic hypermutation and mutation site were analysed by IMGT/V-QUEST.
Results: Of 29 CLL patients, 21 had IgVH mutation (72%). The most frequently expressed VH gene family was found to be VH3 (55%) followed by VH4 (38%), VH2 (3.5%) and VH7 (3.5%), with no expression of VH1, VH5 and VH6.
Conclusions: The expression frequency of IgVH gene families in Chinese CLL patients is significantly different from that in Western CLL patients, suggesting the involvement of ethnic and/or environmental factors in CLL development, which might partly explain the different incidence of CLL between China and Western countries.