Juxta-centromeric fragility of chromosomes 1, 2, 9, 16, and immunodeficiency. Special reference to the fragility of chromosome 2 and its oncogenic potential.

Juxta-centromeric fragility of chromosomes 1, 2, 9, 16, has been described at least thrice in unrelated patients in association with combined immunodeficiency. This association has been confirmed by our findings in both immunodeficient and cancer patients. In our opinion, both the fragility and the immunodeficiency are the results of persistent viral infections by certain DNA (i.e.: Herpes-, Papova-) viruses or RNA (retro-) viruses (i.e. HTLV), which are lymphotropic. The immunodeficiency may be due to virus-cell, cell to cell, or virus-virus interactions. According to our findings, centromeric fragility of chromosome 2 appears to have a particular oncogenic potential probably because of its location in proximity to immunoglobulins genes. We suggest that centromeric fragility of chromosomes 1, 2, 9, 16, may be one of the symptoms of an incipient Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) which will not necessarily develop fully.