Rearrangement of immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region genes in human neonates / 南方医科大学学报

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the rearrangement of immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy chain variable region (V(H)) genes in human neonates with different gestational ages (GA).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Peripheral blood from the neonates with GA of 27 weeks (4 cases), 28-32 weeks (9 cases), 33-36 weeks (12 cases), and 37-42 weeks (13 cases) was collected. RT-PCR was used to amplify the Ig V(H) gene, and the PCR products were separated by electrophoresis and analyzed using 6% denaturing PAGE gel.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All Ig V(H) family genes had several rearranged genes in each GA group, and the neonates with different GA showed no significant difference in the median molecular weight for each rearranged Ig V(H) family gene.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The neonates with GA of 27-42 weeks exhibit diversity in Ig V(H) gene rearrangement, and for the same Ig V(H) family, the median length of the arranged Ig V(H) genes is independent of the gestational age.</p>