title: HOXC4, HOXC5, and HOXC6 expression in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: preferential expression of the HOXC5 gene in primary cutaneous anaplastic T-cell and oro-gastrointestinal tract mucosa-associated B-cell lymphomas.
abstract: Most of the 39 members of the homeobox (HOX) gene family are believed to control blood cell development. HOXC4 and HOXC6 gene expression levels increase with differentiation of lymphoid cells. In contrast, HOXC5 is not expressed in the lymphoid lineage, but was found in lymphoid cell lines, representing the neoplastic equivalents of various differentiation stages of T and B lymphocytes. In the present study, we investigated the HOXC4, HOXC5, and HOXC6 gene expression pattern in 89 non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHLs) of different histologic subtypes and originating from different sites. Using RNA in situ hybridization and semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, we found expression of HOXC4 in 83 of 88 and HOXC6 in 77 of 88 NHLs and leukemias investigated. In contrast, HOXC5 expression was found in only 26 of 87 NHLs and appeared to be preferentially expressed by two specific subsets of lymphomas, ie, primary cutaneous anaplastic T-cell lymphomas (9 of 9) and extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphomas (maltomas; 7 of 9). These results indicate that, in contrast to HOXC4 and HOXC6, HOXC5 shows a type- and site-restricted expression pattern in both T- and B-cell NHLs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Vrije Universiteit Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Bijl
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: van Oostveen
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Walboomers
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Horstman
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: van den Brule
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Willemze
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Meijer
mesh_terms: D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D005801:Genes, Homeobox; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D016399:Lymphoma, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: C098691:HOXC4 protein, human; C094289:HOXC6 protein, human; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins