Synthesis of Kappa Light Chains by Cell Lines Containing an 8;22 Chromosomal Translocation Derived from a Male Homosexual with Burkitt's Lymphoma

Three cell lines were derived from a homosexual patient with probable acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and Burkitt's lymphoma. The cell lines produce an unusual strain of Epstein-Barr virus which will both transform cord blood lymphocytes and induce early antigens in Raji cells. Translocations between chromosomes 8 and 22 have occurred in all three lines, but the cells synthesize immunoglobulin M with light chains of the kappa type, in contrast to the usual concordance between a translocation involving chromosome 22 and lambda chain synthesis. Both kappa genes and one lambda gene are rearranged. These findings indicate either that translocation may occur as a separate event from immunoglobulin gene rearrangement or that the proposed hierarchical sequence of immunoglobulin gene rearrangements is not always adhered to. The data also imply that in cells containing a translocation between the long arm of chromosome 8 and a chromosome bearing an immunoglobulin gene, alteration of cellular myc expression may occur regardless of the immunoglobulin gene that is expressed.