Allelic expression and quantitative RT-PCR study of TAp73 and ΔNp73 in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas

p73 shares structural and functional homology to p53. p73 generates different proteins using alternative promoters and splicing which have different biological characteristics. We investigated the pattern (monoallelic or biallelic) of expression of TAp73 and ΔNp73 in normal lymphocytes and lymphomas using two p73 polymorphisms. We found monoallelic expression of TAp73 in normal lymphocytes and tumors, and a selective expression of AT allele in all cases. Moreover, the quantitative expression analysis revealed ΔNp73 over-expression in both B- and T-cell lymphomas comparing with normal lymphoid cells, suggesting a role in tumorigenesis. Finally, we have confirmed that although ΔNp73 over-expression could be an alternative mechanism of p53 inactivation, both alterations may appear together.