Follicular dendritic cells in non-Hodgkin-lymphoma express adhesion molecules complementary to ligands on neoplastic B-cells.
In non-Hodgkin-lymphoma (NHL) with nodular growth patterns, follicular dendritic cells (FDC) form a spherical network which contains neoplastic B-cells. In order to dissect the basis of this close FDC/B cell association, the antigenic profile of adhesion molecules expressed by individual FDC and NHL-B-lymphocytes was evaluated. FDC isolated from NHL were found to express C3bi receptors (CD11b), the very late antigen (VLA) alpha-5- and alpha-6-chain (CD49e, CD49f), and the intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1; CD54). Only a percentage of the FDC population was positive for the VLA beta-1- and alpha-3-chain (CD29, CD49c), the vitronectin receptor (CD51) and the vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1). B-cells obtained from the lymph nodes of patients with centroblastic-centrocytic lymphoma expressed several ligands complementary to the adhesion molecules detected on FDC. These include LFA-1 alpha- and beta-chains (CD11a, CD18), and ICAM-1 (CD54). Surprisingly, monoclonal lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of patients with a leukaemic course of this lymphoma entity were devoid of these antigens. It seems likely then that neoplastic B-cells without CD11a, CD18 and CD54 surface molecules are unable to associate with FDC and now invade other compartments. Thus, the adhesive interactions which do occur between FDC and NHL-B-cells may directly influence the peculiar growth pattern and spread of centroblastic-centrocytic lymphoma.
Petrasch
S
S
Department of Medicine, University of Essen, Germany.
Kosco
M
M
Schmitz
J
J
Wacker
H H
HH
Brittinger
G
G
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000276:immunology; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000032:analysis*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology; D008224:Lymphoma, Follicular / Q000276:immunology*; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000276:immunology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015703:Antigens, CD; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules