Expression of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein in malignant lymphomas. An immunohistochemical study.
OBJECTIVE
Interleukin-1 (IL-1) receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) is a naturally occurring modulator of IL-1 that functions by competitively binding to IL-1 receptors without producing biologic effects. Interleukin-1 is believed to be a mediator involved in production of constitutional symptoms in patients with malignant lymphoma. Because we know of no study regarding IL-1ra expression in lymphomas, we tried to demonstrate the presence of IL-1ra in lymphomas using immunohistochemistry.


METHODS
Anti-IL-1ra monoclonal antibody was applied to paraffin sections of Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) with avidin-biotin complex method.


RESULTS
Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist was found to be present primarily in benign reactive histiocytes in neoplastic tissue. Positivity for IL-1ra was found in 12 (67%) of 18 cases of Hodgkin's disease and 53 (29%) of 184 cases of NHL. The positivity rate varied in different subtypes of NHL. Three percent (1 in 30) of follicular small cleaved-cell lymphomas contained IL-1ra-expressing histiocytes, whereas 52% (17 of 33) of diffuse mixed-cell and 27% (12 of 44) of diffuse large-cell lymphomas contained IL-1ra-positive histiocytes. Nine of 13 (69%) cases of high-grade NHLs contained IL-1ra-expressing histiocytes. Among cases of NHL, the higher-grade NHL cases showed higher percentages of positivity.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings further support the hypothesis that IL-1 may play a role in producing constitutional symptoms.
Shin
S S
SS
Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine 92103-8720.
Traweek
S T
ST
Ulich
T R
TR
D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000473:pathology*; D017472:Receptors, Interleukin-1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins / Q000032:analysis*
C507763:IL1RN protein, human; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D017472:Receptors, Interleukin-1; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins