Differential expression of selected genes in human leukemia leukocytes.

cDNA clones complementary to mRNA of cells from patients having chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) were used to examine quantitative changes in the mRNA levels of specific genes in human leukemia leukocytes. Fourteen (of 400) CLL-positive clones that did not hybridize with placental mRNA were studied. Three of the 14 clones were highly represented in mRNA from CEM, a T-cell line. One clone was highly represented in mRNA from CLL and two were highly represented in mRNA from patients with chronic myelocytic leukemia. Ten clones were not significantly represented in normal leukocytes and spleen mRNA. We have identified several genes that are differentially expressed in human leukemia leukocytes.