Expression of sialylated Leu-M1 antigen in histiocytosis X.
The purpose of this study is to determine the versatility of the monoclonal antibody anti-Leu-M1 in histiocytosis X diagnosis. This antibody recognizes an unsialylated lacto-N-fucopentaose III (hapen X) carbohydrate moiety that is linked to the cell membrane protein in interdigitating reticulum cells and Langerhans' cells. Previously, the authors have shown that anti-Leu-M1 can be used to stain Reed-Sternberg cells, which are likely related to interdigitating reticulum cells. In this study, the authors tested the usefulness of anti-Leu-M1 in staining formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue sections from eight patients with histiocytosis X. For staining of histiocytosis X cells, unlike Reed-Sternberg cells in Hodgkin's disease, neuraminidase treatment was required for removal of sialic acid residues from the Leu-M1 antigen. The staining characteristics of anti-Leu-M1 in histiocytosis X cells resembled those of normal Langerhans' cells and lymphocyte and histiocyte variants (L & H cells) in the lymphocyte-predominant type of Hodgkin's disease. The significance of sialylation of Leu-M1 antigen in histiocytosis X cells has yet to be determined in order to correlate the prognosis of the disease. The authors suggest that anti-Leu-M1 used together with neuraminidase treatment is a valuable tool in the diagnosis of histiocytosis X when electron microscopy or frozen sections for OKT6 immunostaining are not available.
Santamaria
M
M
Department of Pathology, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston 77225.
Llamas
L
L
Ree
H J
HJ
Sheibani
K
K
Ho
Y S
YS
Su
I J
IJ
Hsu
S M
SM
D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D006646:Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007223:Infant; D016256:Lewis X Antigen; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009439:Neuraminidase / Q000494:pharmacology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D016256:Lewis X Antigen; D009439:Neuraminidase