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. 2016 Mar 2;9:138. doi: 10.1186/s13104-015-1742-3

Persistent polyclonal binucleated B-cell lymphocytosis and MECOM gene amplification

Edouard Cornet 1,2,, Hossein Mossafa 3, Karine Courel 3, Jean-François Lesesve 4, Xavier Troussard 1,2
PMCID: PMC4776409  PMID: 26935937

Abstract

Background

Persistent Polyclonal Binucleated B-cell Lymphocytosis (PPBL) is characterized by a chronic polyclonal B-cell lymphocytosis with binucleated lymphocytes and a polyclonal increase in serum immunoglobulin-M. Cytogenetic is characterized by the presence of a supernumerary isochromosome +i(3)(q10), premature chromosome condensation and chromosomal instability. Outcome of PPBL patients is mostly benign, but subsequent malignancies could occur. The aim of our study is to provide an update of clinical and cytogenetic characteristics of our large cohort of PPBL patients, to describe subsequent malignancies occurring during the follow-up, and to investigate the role of the long arm of chromosome 3 in PPBL.

Results

We analyzed clinical, biological and cytogenetic characteristics (conventional cytogenetic analysis and fluorescent in situ hybridization) of 150 patients diagnosed with PPBL. We performed high-resolution SNP arrays in 10 PPBL patients, comparing CD19+ versus CD19 lymphoid cells. We describe the cytogenetic characteristics in 150 PPBL patients consisting in the presence of supernumerary isochromosome +i(3)(q10) (59 %) and chromosomal instability (55 %). In CD19+ B-cells, we observed recurrent copy number aberrations of 143 genes with 129 gains (90 %) on 3q and a common minimal amplified genomic region in the MECOM gene. After a median follow-up of 60 months, we observed the occurrence of 12 subsequent malignancies (12 %), 6 solid tumors and 6 Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphomas, and 6 monoclonal gammopathies of undetermined significance (MGUS), requiring a long-term clinical follow-up.

Conclusions

Our clinical and cytogenetic observations lead us to hypothesize that isochromosome 3q, especially MECOM abnormality, could play a key role in PPBL.

Keywords: Persistent Polyclonal Binucleated B-cell Lymphocytosis, MECOM, SNP array

Background

Persistent Polyclonal Binucleated B-cell Lymphocytosis (PPBL) is characterized by a chronic, stable and asymptomatic lymphocytosis with binucleated lymphocytes [1]. Binucleated lymphocytes are not specific for PPBL and can be observed in patients with multiple sclerosis treated by natalizumab [2] or after accidental exposure to ionizing radiation. In the peripheral blood, a polyclonal increase of memory B cells (CD19+, CD5, CD27+, IgM+, IgD+) is usually associated with a polyclonal increase in serum immunoglobulin-M (IgM) [36]. PPBL is characterized by a recurrent supernumerary isochromosome +i(3)(q10), a premature chromosome condensation (PCC) and a chromosomal instability [3, 4]. PPBL evolution is benign in most cases, but non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas and solid tumors (pulmonary blastoma) were previously and rarely described [7, 8]. In this study, we report the follow-up and the cytogenetic characteristics of a large cohort of 150 PPBL patients. We report the occurrence of subsequent malignancies in up to 12 % of patients contrasting with previous studies. Strong association between supernumerary isochromosome 3q, chromosomal instability and PPBL led us to study more extensively the role of the long arm of chromosome 3 using SNP arrays in 10 patients. We observed that the MECOM gene, located on 3q26, was recurrently amplified in B-cells of PPBL patients.

Patients and methods

Patients

PPBL was diagnosed from the persistence during three months of binucleated lymphocytes on a peripheral blood film. Patients were included after written informed consent, in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and with institutional guidelines and after approval of the French relevant competent authorities and ethics committees (Committee of Protection of Individuals (CPP), Advisory Committee on the Processing of Information for Medical Research (CCTIRS) and the French National Commission for Data Protection (CNIL)).

Using multiparameter flow cytometry (MFC), B-cells were polyclonal in all cases, based on the expression of CD19 and the absence of a restriction of expression of light chain of immunoglobulin. Blood smears were reviewed in the same laboratory.

Conventional cytogenetic analysis (CCA)

Blood samples were collected on heparin tubes at the time of diagnosis and during the follow-up. All samples were processed in the same laboratory. CCA was performed as previously described [3]. As previously described [9], chromosomal instability was defined as the gain and/or loss of whole chromosomes or chromosomal segments at a higher rate in tumor cell population compared to normal cells.

Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH)

FISH was performed in order to detect supernumerary isochromosome +i(3)(q10) in metaphase and interphase cells using alpha-satellite chromosome 3 specific probes and Bcl6 (3q27) specific probes (Vysis™, USA). One hundred metaphases and three hundred interphases cells were analyzed per patient.

SNP array

SNP arrays were performed using Affymetrix™ Cytogenetics Whole-Genome 2.7M Arrays® (Affymetrix™, USA). All samples were processed in the same laboratory. Patients were selected according to the availability of sufficient fresh cells (diagnosis) or frozen cells (follow-up). Immunomagnetic sorting was performed on whole blood samples or on thawed cells in order to purify CD19+ cells (Miltenyi™ AutoMACS Pro Separator®, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany). The two fractions (CD19+ positive and CD19 negative selection) were kept and the purity was checked to be >95 % by flow cytometry. The DNA was extracted from the two fractions using Gentra Puregene Blood Kit® (Qiagen™, Hilden, Germany). Hybridization of the DNA on chips was performed according the manufacturer’s instructions. Chips were analyzed using Affymetrix™ Chromosome Analysis Suite® (ChASver 1.0.1). Database of annotations was NetAffx Build 30. Quality controls of the chips were set up according Affymetrix™ recommendations (SNP-QC ≥ 1.1 and MAPD (CN-QC) ≤ 0.27). Copy Number Aberrations (CNA) were called according user-defined thresholds (Copy Number (CN) markers >50 and size >25 kb). The Database of Genomic Variants (DGV, http://projects.tcag.ca/variation/) was consulted to determine whether CNA corresponded to genomic variants. Number and size of Copy Number Aberrations (CNAs) were analyzed and compared between patients and between CD19+ and CD19 cells. CNA are called recurrent when at least two patients present the same CNA. Mosaicism phenomenon was detected in case of allele frequencies between disomic and trisomic states.

Results

PPBL was diagnosed in 150 untreated patients, whose main characteristics are described in Table 1. Sixty-nine percent of cases showed an absolute lymphocytosis >4 × 109/L, with a mean percentage of binucleated lymphocytes at 3.9 % (1–40). Median follow-up was 60 months (1–402) and median overall survival was not reached. Eighteen patients (12 %) developed subsequent malignancies, among which nine cases were previously described (non Hodgkin’s lymphomas (NHL) in three cases, solid tumors in two cases and monoclonal gammopathies of undetermined significance (MGUS) in 4 cases) [10]. Among the 18 patients, six patients developed solid tumors with a mean time of occurrence of 87 months (3–156) (4 pulmonary cancers, 1 breast cancer and 1 cervical carcinoma). Twelve patients (8 %) developed hematological malignancies. Six cases of MGUS (IgM) (4 %) and NHL (4 %) occurred with a mean time of 75 months (0–264) and 58 months (0–120), respectively. Four patients developed a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and 2 patients a splenic marginal zone lymphoma (Table 2 for details). Among these 18 cases, 17 patients were chronic smokers. These data strongly lead us to consider PPBL as a premalignant state requiring a long-term follow-up.

Table 1.

Characteristics and follow-up of 150 patients with PPBL

Age (years), Mean (min–max) 40 (18.9–66.2)
Sex (M/F) 26 (17 %)/124 (83 %)
Tobacco consumption 130/145 (90 %)
Clinical presentation
 Lymph node(s) 10/108 (9 %)
 Splenomegaly 19/106 (18 %)
 Hepatomegaly 2/108 (2 %)
Hemogram, Mean (min–max)
 White blood cells (109/L) 12.8 (7–44.8)
 Hemoglobin (g/dL) 13.8 (10.1–16.9)
 Platelets (109/L) 228 (83–380)
 Lymphocytosis (109/L) 6.5 (2.2–41)
 Binucleated Lymphocytes (% of lymphocytes) 3.9 (1–40)
IgM (g/L), Mean (min–max) 7.8 (2.17–20)
HLA DR7 positive 40/52 (77 %)
Multiparameter Flow Cytometry—Mean (min–max)
 CD19 (%) 50.4 (7–83)
Cytogenetics Diagnosis Follow-up
 +i(3)(q10) positive by karyotype 50/140 (36 %) 20/32 (63 %)
 +i(3)(q10) positive by FISH 80/128 (63 %) 24/26 (92 %)
 PCC positive 35/140 (25 %) 8/32 (25 %)
 Chromosomal instability 76/140 (54 %) 31/32 (97 %)
Subsequent Malignancies 18/150 (12 %)
 MGUS 6/150 (4 %)
 Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphomas 6/150 (4 %)
 Solid tumors 6/150 (4 %)

Clinical and biological data were collected from 27 centers. Median follow-up was 60 months (1–402) with unreached median overall survival

MGUS monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance

Table 2.

Eighteen subsequent malignancies occurred in PPBL patients

Patients Delay between PPBL and subsequent malignancy’s diagnosis Type of malignancy Follow-up
UPN36 38 months DLBCL 56 months
UPN47 20 months SMZL +65 months
UPN57 92 months DLBCL 99 months
UPN63 Diagnosis of PPBL and lymphoma was concomitant DLBCL +13 months
UPN71 77 months SMZL +86 months
UPN83 120 months DLBCL +131 months
UPN1 264 months MGUS +348 months
UPN10 144 months MGUS +148 months
UPN157 44 months MGUS +47 months
UPN118 Diagnosis of PPBL and MGUS was concomitant MGUS +36 months
UPN163 Diagnosis of PPBL and MGUS was concomitant MGUS +57 months
UPN105 Diagnosis of PPBL and MGUS was concomitant MGUS +42 months
UPN5 96 months Mammary carcinoma +272 months
UPN6 3 months Pulmonary carcinoma 3 months
UPN70 22 months Pulmonary carcinoma +22 months
UPN86 132 months Pulmonary carcinoma +146 months
UPN160 114 months Pulmonary carcinoma 112 months
UPN67 156 months Cervical carcinoma +181 months

Six patients developed solid tumors (4 pulmonary cancers, 1 breast cancer and 1 cervical carcinoma) and 6 patients hematological malignancies (diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in 4 cases, splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL) in 2 cases) and 6 patients monoclonal gammopathies of undetermined significance (MGUS) (IgM)

At diagnosis, CCA and FISH were performed in 140 and 128 patients, respectively. During the follow-up, CCA was performed in 32 patients (21 %). CCA and FISH detected no cytogenetic abnormality in 52/140 patients (37 %). Recurrent supernumerary isochromosome +i(3)(q10) was identified in 82/140 patients (59 %). PCC, arising from asynchronous mitotic activity in multinucleated cells, was observed concomitantly with +i(3)(q10) in 30/140 patients (21 %). By CCA, trisomy 8 and del(6q) were also detected either as recurrent abnormalities (2/140 and 5/140, respectively) or as non-recurrent abnormalities (9/140 and 4/140, respectively). Chromosomal instability was observed in 76/140 patients (54 %) and persisted in 31/32 patients (97 %) during follow-up.

To determine whether 3q could be implicated in PPBL pathogenesis, SNP arrays were performed in 10 patients (3 males, 7 females) with +i(3)(q10) in 9/10 patients (Table 3 for details). Written informed consents were obtained from the patients. The comparative analysis of sorted CD19+ and CD19 cells revealed that CNAs were observed predominantly in CD19+ B-cells on 3q (Table 4) with mosaicism phenomenon in 3 patients. Genetic instability was observed in all cases and predominantly in CD19+ B-cells. We observed 143 recurrent CNAs with 129 gains (90 %) on 3q of B-cells (Table 5). Interestingly, we identified with a high frequency (7/9 patients) partial or complete amplification of one particular genomic region located in 3q26.2. The size of this common minimal amplified region was 28 kilobases (85 copy number markers) located in coding region of MECOM gene (Fig. 1). This amplification was not detected in two patients (UPN147 and UPN136). In one of them (UPN147), no +i(3)(q10) was detected by CCA and/or FISH. Unfortunately, due to the mosaicism phenomenon, with less than 20 % of B-cells presenting +i(3)(q10), gain in MECOM gene has not been confirmed yet by other molecular studies, such as quantitative PCR.

Table 3.

Characteristics of the 10 patients analyzed by SNP arrays (UPN: Unique Patient Number)

Patient Karyotype PCC (%) FISH +i(3)(q10) (%)
UPN8b 46–47,XX, +i(3)(q10) [3] /46,XX,del(2)(q22), −17, +mar [1] /45, X, −X [1] /46,XX [40] Absent Present (6 %)
UPN57a 47,XY, +i(3)(q10) [5] /48,XY, +i(3)(q10), +12 [01]/46,XY,t(14;18)(q32;q22)[01]/47,XY,t(11;14)(q13;q32), +mar [01]/46,XY,add(3)(p26) [1] /47,XY, +22[01]/49,XY, +i(3)(q10), +8, +mar[01]/46,XY [39] Absent Present (7 %)
UPN136a 46,XX [48]/PCC [2] Present (4 %) Present (4 %)
UPN71c 47,XX, +X,del(6)(q15q26)[01]/46,XX,del(6)(q15q26),der(6)t(6;6)(q21;q23)[08]/46,XX,del(1)(q12),der(14)t(1;14)(p22;q32)[02]/46,XX[09] Absent Present (2 %)
UPN127b 47,XY, +i(3)(q10) [3] /46,X,der(Y)t(Y;?)(q12;?) [3] /46,XY [12] Absent Present (12 %)
UPN138a 46,XX,del(6)(q21q24) [6] /46,XX,der(8)t(3;8)(q11;q11),der(17)t(17;?)(p11;?) [2] /46,XX,del(17)(p11) [2] /46,XX,t(1;6)(q24;q21) [1] /46,XX,der(14)t(14;?)(p25;?) [1] /46,XX,dup(3)(p13p26) [1] /46,XX,der(4)t(4;?)(p16;?) [1] /46,XX [26] Absent Present (11 %)
UPN99a 47,XX, +18 [2] /47,XX, +3 [1] /46,XX [37]/PCC [1] Present (2 %) Present (4 %)
UPN147a 46,XX [50] Absent Absent
UPN73a 46,XX [50] Absent Present (1.4 %)
UPN105a 46,XY [46]/46,XY [cp 4] Absent Present (3 %)

Depending on the quality of extracted DNA, we performed DNA arrays on aboth CD19+ and CD19 cells in 7 patients, bCD19+ cells in 2 patients and cCD19 cells in 1 patient. CCA and/or FISH detected +i(3)(q10) in 9/10 patients

PCC premature chromosome condensation

Table 4.

Repartition of CNAs observed in CD19 and CD19+ cells. CD19+ cells presented twice as many CNAs as CD19 [83 CNAs (12–218) versus 42 (3–184)]

CD19− CNAs—Total (gains/losses)
Chromosome UPN73 UPN71 UPN57 UPN136 UPN138 UPN99 UPN147 UPN105 Mean
1 2 (2/0) 0 (0/0) 4 (1/3) 1 (0/1) 3 (3/0) 1 (0/1) 0 (0/0) 17 (0/17) 3.5 (0.7/2.8)
2 3 (1/2) 1 (1/0) 0 (0/0) 2 (0/2) 2 (2/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 24 (0/24) 4.0 (0.5/3.5)
3 2 (1/1) 0 (0/0) 3 (3/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 8 (1/7) 1.6 (0.6/1.0)
3p 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0.0 (0.0/0.0)
3q 2 (1/1) 0 (0/0) 3 (3/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 8 (1/7) 1.6 (0.6/1.0)
4 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 2 (1/1) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 1 (1/0) 30 (1/29) 4.1 (0.4/3.7)
5 0 (0/0) 1 (0/1) 1 (0/1) 0 (0/0) 1 (1/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 15 (0/15) 2.3 (0.1/2.2)
6 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 1 (1/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 11 (0/11) 1.5 (0.1/1.4)
7 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 1 (1/0) 0 (0/0) 1 (1/0) 12 (0/12) 1.8 (0.3/1.5)
8 1 (0/1) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 1 (1/0) 3 (3/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 6 (0/6) 1.4 (0.5/0.9)
9 0 (0/0) 4 (0/4) 3 (0/3) 0 (0/0) 4 (2/2) 1 (1/0) 0 (0/0) 7 (0/7) 2.4 (0.4/2.0)
10 1 (1/0) 1 (0/1) 1 (0/1) 0 (0/0) 1 (1/0) 0 (0/0) 1 (1/0) 7 (0/7) 1.5 (0.4/1.1)
11 0 (0/0) 2 (1/1) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 2 (2/0) 0 (0/0) 1 (0/1) 10 (0/10) 1.9 (0.4/1.5)
12 2 (2/0) 0 (0/0) 1 (0/1) 0 (0/0) 1 (1/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 8 (1/7) 1.5 (0.5/1.0)
13 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 2 (0/2) 0 (0/0) 1 (0/1) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 8 (1/7) 1.4 (0.1/1.3)
14 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 6 (1/5) 0.8 (0.1/0.7)
15 2 (2/0) 1 (1/0) 1 (0/1) 2 (0/2) 2 (1/1) 0 (0/0) 1 (1/0) 4 (1/3) 1.6 (0.9/0.7)
16 1 (1/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 1 (1/0) 3 (1/2) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 1 (0/1) 0.8 (0.4/0.4)
17 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 1 (0/1) 0 (0/0) 1 (1/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 4 (2/2) 0.8 (0.4/0.4)
18 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 1 (1/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 1 (0/1) 0.2 (0.2/0.1)
19 0 (0/0) 1 (0/1) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 1 (0/1) 1 (0/1) 1 (0/1) 0.5 (0.0/0.5)
20 1 (1/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 1 (1/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0.3 (0.3/0.0)
21 1 (0/1) 1 (0/1) 1 (0/1) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 1 (0/1) 0.5 (0.0/0.5)
22 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 1 (1/0) 1 (1/0) 0.3 (0.3/0.0)
X 1 (1/0) 7 (6/1) 13 (13/0) 1 (0/1) 25 (24/1) 0 (0/0) 2 (1/1) 1 (0/1) 6.2 (5.6/0.6)
Y 1 (1/0) 1 (1/0) 2 (0/2) 0 (0/0) 2 (2/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 1 (0/1) 0.9 (0.5/0.4)
Total 18 (13/5) 20 (10/10) 33 (18/15) 10 (3/7) 55 (48/7) 3 (1/2) 9 (6/3) 184 (9/175) 41.5 (13.5/28)
CD19+ CNAs—total (gains/losses)
Chromosome UPN73 UPN8 UPN57 UPN136 UPN127 UPN138 UPN99 UPN147 UPN105 Mean
1 20 (19/1) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 4 (0/4) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 5 (4/1) 8 (1/7) 0 (0/0) 5.0 (3.6/1.4)
2 22 (22/0) 2 (1/1) 0 (0/0) 2 (0/2) 0 (0/0) 1 (0/1) 3 (3/0) 12 (1/11) 0 (0/0) 5.7 (3.9/1.8)
3 20 (19/1) 4 (4/0) 26 (25/1) 0 (0/0) 46 (46/0) 1 (1/0) 2 (2/0) 5 (0/5) 113 (113/0) 25.0 (24.2/0.8)
3p 11 (11/0) 0 (0/0) 1 (0/1) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 1.8 (1.7/0.1)
3q 9 (8/1) 4 (4/0) 25 (25/0) 0 (0/0) 46 (46/0) 1 (1/0) 2 (2/0) 5 (0/5) 113 (113/0) 23.2 (22.6/0.7)
4 9 (9/0) 0 (0/0) 2 (0/2) 5 (1/4) 0 (0/0) 1 (1/0) 0 (0/0) 10 (1/9) 0 (0/0) 4.0 (2.3/1.7)
5 14 (13/1) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 2 (0/2) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 5 (0/5) 1 (0/1) 3.4 (2.4/1.0)
6 10 (10/0) 1 (1/0) 0 (0/0) 1 (0/1) 0 (0/0) 1 (1/0) 1 (1/0) 5 (1/4) 0 (0/0) 2.9 (2.3/0.6)
7 12 (12/0) 1 (0/1) 0 (0/0) 1 (0/1) 1 (0/1) 0 (0/0) 1 (1/0) 6 (1/5) 0 (0/0) 2.4 (1.6/0.8)
8 13 (11/2) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 1 (0/1) 1 (1/0) 2 (0/2) 0 (0/0) 2.3 (1.8/0.5)
9 14 (14/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 4 (0/4) 0 (0/0) 5 (0/5) 1 (1/0) 4 (1/3) 0 (0/0) 3.8 (2.4/1.4)
10 8 (8/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 3 (0/3) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 1.6 (1.2/0.4)
11 9 (9/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 2 (0/2) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 1 (1/0) 7 (0/7) 0 (0/0) 2.8 (1.8/1.0)
12 5 (5/0) 1 (0/1) 2 (0/2) 0 (0/0) 1 (1/0) 0 (0/0) 1 (1/0) 8 (1/7) 0 (0/0) 2.7 (1.6/1.1)
13 4 (4/0) 0 (0/0) 1 (0/1) 2 (0/2) 0 (0/0) 1 (0/1) 0 (0/0) 2 (0/2) 1 (1/0) 1.3 (0.7/0.6)
14 3 (3/0) 0 (0/0) 1 (0/1) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 2 (2/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 1.1 (1.0/0.1)
15 5 (5/0) 0 (0/0) 1 (1/0) 1 (0/1) 2 (0/2) 1 (0/1) 0 (0/0) 2 (1/1) 1 (1/0) 1.8 (1.2/0.6)
16 2 (2/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 2 (0/2) 1 (1/0) 2 (0/2) 0 (0/0) 1 (1/0) 1 (0/1) 1.6 (1.0/0.6)
17 4 (4/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 1 (0/1) 1 (1/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 1 (1/0) 0 (0/0) 0.9 (0.8/0.1)
18 5 (5/0) 1 (1/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 3 (3/0) 1 (1/0) 1 (0/1) 0 (0/0) 1.9 (1.8/0.1)
19 1 (1/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 1 (0/1) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 1 (0/1) 0 (0/0) 0.4 (0.2/0.2)
20 5 (5/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 2 (2/0) 1 (1/0) 0 (0/0) 1.2 (1.2/0.0)
21 1 (0/1) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 1 (0/1) 0 (0/0) 1 (0/1) 0 (0/0) 2 (0/2) 0 (0/0) 0.6 (0.0/0.6)
22 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 1 (1/0) 0 (0/0) 0.3 (0.3/0.0)
X 28 (27/1) 1 (0/1) 1 (1/0) 7 (5/2) 2 (2/0) 5 (4/1) 1 (1/0) 5 (3/2) 0 (0/0) 7.0 (6.2/0.2)
Y 4 (4/0) 1 (1/0) 0 (0/0) 6 (6/0) 0 (0/0) 14 (14/0) 2 (2/0) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) 3.0 (3.0/0.0)
Total 218 (211/7) 12 (8/4) 34 (27/7) 44 (12/32) 55 (51/4) 37 (24/13) 24 (23/1) 89 (15/74) 117 (115/2) 82.7 (66.6/16.1)

28 % of CNAs (0–97 %) were located on 3q in CD19+ cells compared to 5 % (0–11 %) in CD19 cells (data not shown)

Table 5.

Recurrent Copy Number Aberrations (CNA) in CD19+ B-cells. 143 CNA had been observed

Chr Cytoregion Recurrence Recurrence including mosaicism CN state Gene Minimal common size (kbp) Genic region: total (T)
Exonic (E)
Intronic (I)
CNA reported in DGV
1 p33 2 2 Loss FAF1 31 I No
1 p32.2 2 2 Gain C1orf168 50.2 E/I No
2 p23.2 2 2 Gain ALK 62 E/I Yes
2 q21.2–q21.3 2 2 Gain MGAT5 72 E/I No
3 p24.2 2 2 Gain THRB 55.7 I No
3 q11.2 2 3 Gain LOC255025 50 E/I No
3 q12.2 2 3 Gain ABI3BP 143 E/I Yes
3 q13.13 2 3 Gain DZIP3 10.6 I No
3 q13.31 2 3 Gain ZBTB20 39 I No
3 q13.31 2 3 Gain GAP43 399 T No
3 q13.31 2 3 Gain LSAMP 53 I No
3 q13.33 2 3 Gain TMEM39A 176 T No
3 q13.33 2 3 Gain KTELC1 176 T No
3 q13.33 2 3 Gain C3orf1 176 T No
3 q13.33 2 3 Gain CD80 176 T No
3 q13.33 2 3 Gain ADPRH 176 T No
3 q21.1 2 3 Gain HSPBAP1 101 E/I No
3 q21.1 2 4 Gain DIRC2 101 T No
3 q21.1 2 4 Gain LOC100129550 101 T Yes
3 q21.1 2 4 Gain SEC22A 114 T No
3 q21.1 2 4 Gain PTPLB 125 T No
3 q21.1 3 4 Gain MYLK 70 E/I No
3 q21.1 2 4 Gain CCDC14 121 E/I Yes
3 q21.2 2 4 Gain KALRN 169 T No
3 q21.2 2 4 Gain UMPS 169 T No
3 q21.2 2 4 Gain ZNF148 164 E/I Yes
3 q21.2 2 4 Gain ALDH1L1 171 E/I No
3 q21.3 3 4 Gain TXNRD3IT1 299 E/I No
3 q21.3 3 4 Gain CHCHD6 299 E/I No
3 q21.3 2 4 Gain KLHDC6 95 T No
3 q21.3 2 4 Gain RUVBL1 211 E/I Yes
3 q21.3 2 4 Gain EEFSEC 211 E/I Yes
3 q21.3 2 4 Gain GATA2 76 E/I Yes
3 q21.3 3 4 Gain LOC90246 76 T Yes
3 q21.3 2 4 Gain C3orf27 120.7 T Yes
3 q21.3 2 4 Gain TMCC1 268 T No
3 q21.3 2 4 Gain COL6A4P2 131 T Yes
3 q22.1 2 4 Gain MRPL3 62 E/I Yes
3 q22.1 2 4 Gain SNORA58 62 T Yes
3 q22.1 3 5 Gain CPNE4 46 I Yes
3 q22.1 2 4 Gain CPNE4 155 E/I Yes
3 q22.1 2 4 Gain TMEM108 120 I Yes
3 q22.1 2 4 Gain TOPBP1 69 E/I No
3 q22.1 2 4 Gain RYK 225 T No
3 q22.1 2 4 Gain ANAPC13 197 T Yes
3 q22.1 2 4 Gain CEP63 197 T Yes
3 q22.2 2 4 Gain EPHB1 144 E/I No
3 q22.2 2 4 Gain PPP2R3A 85 E/I No
3 q22.3 2 4 Gain SOX14 925 T No
3 q22.3 3 4 Gain CLDN18 121 T Yes
3 q22.3 2 4 Gain ARMC8 77 E/I Yes
3 q22.3 2 4 Gain TXNDC6 77 E/I Yes
3 q22.3 2 4 Gain ESYT3 202.7 E/I No
3 q22.3 2 4 Gain CEP70 202.7 T No
3 q22.3 2 4 Gain FAIM 202.7 T No
3 q22.3 2 4 Gain PIK3CB 202.7 E/I No
3 q22.3 3 4 Gain LOC729627 193 T No
3 q22.3 3 4 Gain LOC389151 193 T No
3 q22.3 3 4 Gain FLJ46210 193 T No
3 q22.3 3 4 Gain BPESC1 193 T No
3 q22.3 2 4 Gain PISRT1 319 T No
3 q23 2 4 Gain MRPS22 89 E/I No
3 q23 2 4 Gain COPB2 89 T No
3 q23 3 4 Gain NMNAT3 277.8 E/I No
3 q23 4 5 Gain CLSTN2 46 I Yes
3 q23 2 4 Gain TRIM42 443 T Yes
3 q23 2 4 Gain SLC25A36 443 T Yes
3 q24 2 4 Gain SLC9A9 138 E/I Yes
3 q24 2 4 Gain PLSCR4 47 E/I No
3 q24 2 4 Gain PLSCR5 69 T No
3 q24 2 4 Gain AGTR1 194 E/I No
3 q25.1 2 4 Gain P2RY13 74 E/I No
3 q25.1 2 4 Gain MED12L 74 E/I No
3 q25.1 2 4 Gain P2RY13 74 T No
3 q25.2 2 4 Gain SGEF 364 E/I Yes
3 q25.2–q25.31 3 4 Gain MME 87.4 E/I No
3 q25.32 2 4 Gain VEPH1 78 E/I Yes
3 q25.32 2 4 Gain C3orf55 78 E/I No
3 q25.32 3 4 Gain MLF1 50 E/I No
3 q26.1 2 4 Gain C3orf57 120.6 E/I No
3 q26.1 2 4 Gain OTOL1 120.6 T No
3 q26.1 3 4 Gain SI 747 T No
3 q26.1 3 4 Gain BCHE 329 E/I No
3 q26.1 2 4 Gain ZBBX 307 T No
3 q26.2 6 7 Gain MDS1 28 E/I No
3 q26.2 2 4 Gain TERC 59 T Yes
3 q26.2 2 4 Gain ARPM1 59 T Yes
3 q26.2 2 4 Gain MYNN 59 T Yes
3 q26.2 2 4 Gain LRRC34 59 E/I Yes
3 q26.2 3 5 Gain TNIK 31 E/I No
3 q26.31 2 4 Gain NLGN1 125 I Yes
3 q26.31 2 4 Gain NLGN1 64 E/I No
3 q26.31 2 4 Gain NAALADL2 113 E/I Yes
3 q26.32 2 4 Gain TBL1XR1 60 E/I No
3 q26.32 2 4 Gain KCNMB2 121 E/I No
3 q26.33 2 4 Gain USP13 59 E/I No
3 q26.33 2 4 Gain PEX5L 81 E/I No
3 q26.33 2 4 Gain CCDC39 118 E/I Yes
3 q27.1 2 4 Gain YEATS2 112 E/I No
3 q27.1 2 4 Gain MAP6D1 112 T No
3 q27.1 2 4 Gain PARL 112 E/I No
3 q27.2 2 4 Gain VPS8 218 E/I No
3 q27.2 2 4 Gain ETV5 157 T No
3 q27.2 2 4 Gain DGKG 157 E/I No
3 q27.3 2 4 Gain CRYGS 110 E/I No
3 q27.3 2 4 Gain TBCCD1 110 T No
3 q27.3 2 4 Gain DNAJB11 110 T No
3 q27.3 2 4 Gain AHSG 110 T Yes
3 q27.3 2 4 Gain FETUB 110 E/I Yes
3 q27.3 2 4 Gain ST6GAL1 46 E/I Yes
3 q27.3 2 4 Gain MASP1 428 E/I No
3 q27.3 3 4 Gain RTP4 148 T No
3 q27.3 2 4 Gain SST 428 T No
3 q27.3 2 4 Gain FLJ42393 191 T Yes
3 q28 3 4 Gain LPP 191 E/I Yes
3 q28 2 4 Gain TP63 142 E/I No
3 q28 2 4 Gain CLDN1 203 T No
3 q28 2 4 Gain CLDN16 203 T No
3 q28 2 4 Gain TMEM207 203 T No
3 q29 2 4 Gain C3orf59 396 E/I No
3 q29 2 4 Gain MGC2889 396 T Yes
3 q29 2 4 Gain HRASLS 396 T Yes
3 q29 2 4 Gain ATP13A5 396 E/I No
3 q29 2 4 Gain ATP13A4 158 E/I Yes
3 q29 2 4 Gain OPA1 158 T Yes
3 q29 2 4 Gain GP5 97 E/I No
3 q29 2 4 Gain ATP13A3 97 T Yes
3 q29 2 4 Gain TM4SF19 87 E/I Yes
3 q29 2 4 Gain UBXN7 87 E/I Yes
3 q29 2 4 Gain DLG1 240 E/I Yes
3 q29 2 4 Gain FYTTD1 50 T Yes
3 q29 2 4 Gain LRCH3 50 E/I Yes
3 q29 2 4 Gain RPL35A 91 E/I Yes
3 q29 2 4 Gain IQCG 91 E/I Yes
3 q29 2 4 Gain LMLN 91 T Yes
4 q13.3 2 2 Gain SLC4A4 46 E/I No
11 p15.1 2 2 Gain NELL1 43 I No
14 q13.1 2 2 Gain NPAS3 43 I Yes
16 p11.1 2 2 Gain LOC283914 277 T Yes
21 p11.2–p11.1 2 3 Loss TPTE 107 T Yes
X p22.33 3 3 Gain DHRSX 31 E/I Yes
X q12 2 2 Gain EDA2R 91 E/I Yes
Y q11.21 2 2 Gain USP9Y 60 E/I No

129 gains concerned the long arm of chromosome 3 (3q). 123 gains concerned gene coding regions. 75 CNA did not include previously reported polymorphism (Database of Genomic Variants, DGV). Gain of one exon of MDS1 (part of MECOM gene) was recurrently observed in 7 patients (including mosaicism phenomenon)

Chr chromosome, Recurrence number of patients with the same CNA, CN state Copy Number state, gain or loss

Fig. 1.

Fig. 1

Schematic representation of region 3q26.2 corresponding to MECOM gene in CD19+ B-cells of 9 patients. We observed a common minimal amplified region of 28 kilobases (85 copy number markers) in 7 patients. This amplification is observed in all the CD19+ B-cells in 6 patients (copy number at 3, CN 3) and in a part of CD19+ B-cells in 1 patient (copy number between 2 and 3 revealing a mosaicism phenomenon)

Discussion

Similar to the described link between aneuploidy, genetic instability and the development of human cancers [11, 12], supernumerary isochromosome 3q could be the cause of chromosomal instability observed in PPBL. Transfer of isochromosome 3q into myoblast cell line caused abnormal cytokinesis, centrosome amplification, aneuploidy and abolished G1 arrest following DNA damage. These observations might be related to an increasing expression of ATR gene located on 3q [13]. Moreover, isochromosome 3q has been implicated in the progression of cervical carcinomas, where cells exhibiting either tetrasomy or aneusomy for chromosomes 3 and 17 increased significantly with disease progression [1316]. Supernumerary isochromosome 3q could explain binucleated lymphocytes and chromosomal instability observed in PPBL. MECOM abnormalities, particularly the overexpression of EVI1, have been described in the pathogenesis of myeloid neoplasm such as acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome, especially concerning cell-cycle disorders [1721]. Furthermore, as observed by Stein et al., EVI1 activation could lead to genetic instability [22]. Even if it has never been observed in lymphoid neoplasm, the potential implication of MECOM in PPBL has to be elucidated.

The link between PPBL and subsequent malignancies remains unclear and the role of tobacco is probably dominant. Majority of our patients (17/18) with subsequent malignancies were chronic smokers. We reported recently a detailed description of 2 heavy smokers patients with subsequent malignancies, UPN57 and UPN71 [23]. Tobacco use is a recognized risk factor in the development of solid tumor, such as pulmonary cancer, and also lymphoma [24]. Therefore, in PPBL, where tobacco consumption is frequent (90 % of our cohort of 150 patients), smoking could represent a confounding factor in interpreting the link between PPBL and subsequent malignancies.

Isochromosome 3q has been described in cell-cycle deregulation, chromosomal instability and progression of cervical cancers. Our cytogenetic and clinical observations lead us to hypothesize that isochromosome 3q in B-cells plays a key role in the physiopathology and evolution of PPBL. Although isochromosome 3q has not been yet identified in tumor cells of subsequent malignancies [23], it could be implicated in chromosomal and genomic instability. This genomic instability could be part of a multi-step process leading to the emergence of a malignant B lymphoproliferation. MECOM gene could be a good candidate to explain these observations and remains to be explored.

Availability of data and materials

All raw data are available from the authors upon request.

Authors’ contributions

HM and XT designed the study. EC and XT wrote the manuscript. EC and HM analyzed SNP arrays data. KC performed SNP arrays. HM analyzed conventional cytogenetic and FISH. EC, JFL and XT examined the patients and collected clinical/biological data. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Acknowledgements

We acknowledge all the members of the Groupe Francophone d’Hématologie Cellulaire (GFHC) who participated in this study and followed up PPBL patients.

Competing interests

The authors have nothing to disclose.

Contributor Information

Edouard Cornet, Phone: +33 2 31 06 33 15, Email: cornet-e@chu-caen.fr.

Hossein Mossafa, Email: hmossafa@lab-cerba.com.

Karine Courel, Email: KCourel@lab-cerba.com.

Jean-François Lesesve, Email: jf.lesesve@chu-nancy.fr.

Xavier Troussard, Email: troussard-x@chu-caen.fr.

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Associated Data

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Data Availability Statement

All raw data are available from the authors upon request.


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