Changes in the distribution of HCDR3 lengths in VDJC_μ transcripts derived from the peripheral blood of 3 infants with positive blood cultures for bacteria.

Shown is an autoradiograph of ³²P-labeled RT-PCR products that have been separated on the basis of length by denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The length of each HCDR3 fragment is identified on the right. (A) A premature infant who exhibited an increase in the range and mean of HCDR3 lengths over a 12-week period (see also Table 1, Figure 3). The arrows identify populations of VDJC_μ transcripts of a specific length whose representation changed over time. (B) A premature infant who exhibited a decrease in the range and mean of HCDR3 lengths over an 8-week period. The arrows identify populations of VDJC_μtranscripts of a specific length whose representation changed over time. (C) An infected premature infant whose mean HCDR3 length was near the lower limits of normal for age. The arrow identifies a population of VDJC_μ transcripts of a relatively short length whose representation has contributed to the decreased mean in HCDR3 length distribution, when compared with other healthy premature infants of the same age.