Expression of lymphoid-associated antigens on Hodgkin's and Reed-Sternberg cells of Hodgkin's disease. An immunocytochemical study on lymph node cytospins using monoclonal antibodies.
The aim of this study was to elucidate the origin of Hodgkin's and Reed-Sternberg cells. Lymph node cytospins and frozen sections from 20 cases of Hodgkin's disease of different histological subtypes were immunostained by the immuno-alkaline phosphatase technique using a panel of monoclonal antibodies. As expected, the Hodgkin's and Reed-Sternberg cells of all cases were positive for the CD30 (Ki-1), CD15 (hapten X) and CD25 (Tac) antigens. In eight cases, a variable percentage of typical Hodgkin's and Reed-Sternberg cells showed a clear-cut cytoplasmic and/or surface positivity for the T-cell-associated antigens CD3, CD5, CD6 and CD4 (seven cases) or CD8 (one case), but consistently lacked B-cell and macrophage-associated markers. The best visualization of T-cell antigens was obtained in cytocentrifuge preparations and in areas of lymph node frozen sections that had been infiltrated by clusters of Hodgkin's and Reed-Sternberg cells. In two cases of Hodgkin's disease (nodular sclerosis, mixed cellularity) the neoplastic cells weakly expressed the B-cell antigens CD19 and CD22, but not T-cell or macrophage-associated markers. In 10 cases, Hodgkin's and Reed-Sternberg cells were negative for all the lymphoid- and macrophage-associated antigens. These results suggest a lymphoid (either T or B) rather than histiocytic origin for the Hodgkin's and Reed-Sternberg cells in a number of Hodgkin's disease cases.
Falini
B
B
Department of Clinical Medicine, Perugia University, Italy.
Stein
H
H
Pileri
S
S
Canino
S
S
Farabbi
R
R
Martelli
M F
MF
Grignani
F
F
Fagioli
M
M
Minelli
O
O
Ciani
C
C
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017730:Ki-1 Antigen; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology*; D010641:Phenotype; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D017730:Ki-1 Antigen