title: Nerve growth factor receptor expression on dendritic reticulum cells in follicular lymphoid proliferations.
abstract: Using an antibody to the nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR), we examined dendritic reticulum cells (DRCs) immunohistochemically in 62 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded lymph nodes from patients with reactive follicular hyperplasia or with various types of lymphoma. A dendritic staining pattern within germinal centers was present in 25 of 26 routinely processed lymph nodes with reactive follicular hyperplasia. In contrast, dendritic staining with anti-NGFR was present within neoplastic follicles in only three of 28 follicular lymphomas. Staining of benign, residual germinal centers with anti-NGFR was present in mantle zone lymphoma and Hodgkin's disease. These findings suggest a possible role for the NGFR in the maturation and/or activation of normal DRCs. The loss of NGFR expression in most follicular lymphomas indicates that DRCs are altered as part of the neoplastic process. The possibility that DRCs may play a role in the pathogenesis of follicular lymphoma is suggested.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha 68198.
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Strobach
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakamine
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Masih
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Linder
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Weisenburger
mesh_terms: D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000737:chemistry; D008224:Lymphoma, Follicular / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000032:analysis*; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor
chemical_list: D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor