Nodular sclerosing, mixed cellularity and lymphocyte-depleted variants of Hodgkin's disease are probable dendritic cell malignancies.
The normal counterpart of the Reed-Sternberg cell and its mononuclear variant, collectively referred to as Hodgkin's cells (HC), remains controversial. The possibility that HC are malignant dendritic cells was tested by using a panel of 38 monoclonal antibodies to phenotype the cells from 16 cases of Hodgkin's disease (HD), excluding lymphocyte-predominant HD, and the Hodgkin's cell line L428. The results were then compared with the known phenotype of human dendritic cells. HC stained strongly for HLA Class I and Class II antigens. The leucocyte common antigen was weakly expressed in most cases. Expression of T and B cell markers was unusual, with the exception of the CD40 antigen which was found on a majority of HC. HC commonly expressed the CD11a, CR4 (CD11c), CD15, CD18 and a number of activation antigens but did not stain with a variety of macrophage-specific antibodies. The antigenic phenotype of L428 and the HC of case material were similar. This immunocytological analysis failed to support a lymphocyte or macrophage origin for HC. Instead the antigenic phenotype of the Reed-Sternberg cell and its mononuclear variant more closely resembles that of dendritic cells than of any other haemopoietic cell normally resident in lymph nodes.
Kennedy
I C
IC
Department of Oncology, Christchurch Hospital, New Zealand.
Hart
D N
DN
Colls
B M
BM
Nimmo
J C
JC
Willis
D A
DA
Angus
H B
HB
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000032:analysis; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008231:Lymphopenia / Q000473:pathology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D006680:HLA Antigens; D007375:Interleukin-1