Primary cystic lung light chain deposition disease: a clinicopathologic entity derived from unmutated B cells with a stereotyped IGHV4-34/IGKV1 receptor

Blood. 2008 Sep 1;112(5):2004-12. doi: 10.1182/blood-2007-11-123596. Epub 2008 May 15.

Abstract

We have recently described a new form of light chain deposition disease (LCDD) presenting as a severe cystic lung disorder requiring lung transplantation. There was no bone marrow plasma cell proliferation. Because of the absence of disease recurrence after bilateral lung transplantation and of serum-free light chain ratio normalization after the procedure, we hypothesized that monoclonal light chain synthesis occurred within the lung. The aim of this study was to look for the monoclonal B-cell component in 3 patients with cystic lung LCDD. Histologic examination of the explanted lungs showed diffuse nonamyloid kappa light chain deposits associated with a mild lymphoid infiltrate composed of aggregates of small CD20(+), CD5(-), CD10(-) B lymphocytes reminiscent of bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue. Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), we identified a dominant B-cell clone in the lung in the 3 studied patients. The clonal expansion of each patient shared an unmutated antigen receptor variable region sequence characterized by the use of IGHV4-34 and IGKV1 subgroups with heavy and light chain CDR3 sequences of more than 80% amino acid identity, a feature evocative of an antigen-driven process. Combined with clinical and biologic data, our results strongly argue for a new antigen-driven primary pulmonary lymphoproliferative disorder.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / pathology*
  • Base Sequence
  • Cysts / genetics
  • Cysts / immunology*
  • Cysts / pathology*
  • Cysts / surgery
  • DNA / genetics
  • Female
  • Genes, Immunoglobulin Heavy Chain
  • Genes, Immunoglobulin Light Chain
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / genetics
  • Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / metabolism
  • Immunoglobulin Light Chains / genetics
  • Immunoglobulin Light Chains / metabolism*
  • Immunoglobulin Variable Region / genetics
  • Immunoglobulin Variable Region / metabolism
  • Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains / genetics
  • Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains / metabolism
  • Lung Diseases / genetics
  • Lung Diseases / immunology*
  • Lung Diseases / pathology*
  • Lung Diseases / surgery
  • Lung Transplantation
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Paraproteinemias / genetics
  • Paraproteinemias / immunology*
  • Paraproteinemias / pathology*
  • Paraproteinemias / surgery

Substances

  • Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains
  • Immunoglobulin Light Chains
  • Immunoglobulin Variable Region
  • Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains
  • DNA