Differential expression of BCL-6, CD138/syndecan-1, and Epstein-Barr virus-encoded latent membrane protein-1 identifies distinct histogenetic subsets of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.
This study was aimed at defining the histogenesis of the pathologic spectrum of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (AIDS-NHL), including AIDS-related small noncleaved cell lymphoma (AIDS-SNCCL), AIDS-related large noncleaved cell lymphoma (AIDS-LNCCL), AIDS-related large cell immunoblastic lymphoma plasmacytoid (AIDS-IBLP), and AIDS-related primary effusion lymphoma (AIDS-PEL). Forty-six cases of AIDS-NHL were investigated for the expression pattern of BCL-6, a protein specifically expressed by germinal center (GC) B-cells, and CD138/syndecan-1 (syn-1), a marker of post-GC B-cell differentiation. Expression of BCL-6 and syn-1 segregated two major phenotypic patterns among AIDS-NHL: (1) the BCL-6+/syn-1- pattern associated with AIDS-SNCCL and AIDS-LNCCL; (2) the BCL-6-/syn-1+ pattern associated with AIDS-IBLP and AIDS-PEL. Among systemic AIDS-NHL infected by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), expression of the EBV-encoded latent membrane protein-1 (LMP-1) preferentially associated with the BCL-6-/syn-1+ profile. Analysis of nonneoplastic lymph nodes showed that the two phenotypic patterns detected in AIDS-NHL correspond to physiologic stages of B-cell development, i.e., GC B-cells (BCL-6+/syn-1-) and preterminally differentiated post-GC B-cells (BCL-6-/syn-1+). Thus, BCL-6+/syn-1- AIDS-NHL reflects a GC stage of differentiation, whereas AIDS-NHL which are BCL-6-/syn-1+, and LMP-1+ when infected by EBV, derive from B cells that have entered post-GC plasmacell differentiation. These findings are relevant for the pathogenesis and differential diagnosis of AIDS-NHL.
Carbone
A
A
Division of Pathology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, IRCCS, Aviano, Italy.
Gaidano
G
G
Gloghini
A
A
Larocca
L M
LM
Capello
D
D
Canzonieri
V
V
Antinori
A
A
Tirelli
U
U
Falini
B
B
Dalla-Favera
R
R
D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000737:chemistry; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016483:Lymphoma, AIDS-Related / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis*; D010641:Phenotype; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000032:analysis*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D051560:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-6; D053668:Syndecan-1; D053667:Syndecans; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis*; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000032:analysis*
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C037662:EBV-associated membrane antigen, Epstein-Barr virus; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011509:Proteoglycans; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D051560:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-6; C508241:SDC1 protein, human; D053668:Syndecan-1; D053667:Syndecans; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins