Leukemic LGLs express high levels of variant gene transcripts representing soluble Fas.

RT-PCR analyses of the Fas mRNA were performed by synthesizing cDNA with oligo dT and performing PCR amplifications with primers described in “Patients, materials, and methods.” The full-length Fas mRNA is a predicted 1009–base pair (bp) (195-1203) fragment. Lanes 1-7, unstimulated PMBCs from LGL leukemia patients; lane 8, negative control; lane 9, Jurkat cells; lane 10, normal PHA/IL-2–activated PBMCs; lane 11, unstimulated normal PBMCs. Arrow a represents full-length Fas mRNA, and arrows b through i represent alternatively spliced mRNA.