title: Immunohistochemical analysis of the distribution of lymphocyte subpopulations in Hodgkin's disease.
abstract: We studied the histologic distribution of lymphocyte subpopulations in Hodgkin's disease. Involved tissues from 15 patients were stained by an indirect immunoperoxidase procedure for a variety of lymphocyte surface antigens using monoclonal antibodies. In most cases, there were more T cells than B cells, and Reed-Sternberg cells were found in T-cell rich areas. Except in lymphocyte-depleted Hodgkin's disease, helper-T antigen-positive (TH) cells greatly outnumbered cytotoxic-suppressor antigen-positive cells. Moreover, TH cells showed a preferential association with Reed-Sternberg cells. Lymphocytes surrounding Reed-Sternberg cells often expressed the transferrin receptor, a marker of cell activation. Our results do not support the hypothesis that the lymphocytes in Hodgkin's disease represent a cytotoxic T-cell response to neoplastic cells, except perhaps in the lymphocyte-depleted subtype.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008875:Middle Aged; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / Q000032:analysis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000954:Antigens, Surface; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell