title: Reed-Sternberg cell: survival in a hostile sea.
abstract: In contrast to the non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, little is known regarding the origin, genetics, and function of the Reed-Sternberg cell of Hodgkin's disease. Unlike other cancers, the neoplastic cell of Hodgkin's disease, the Reed-Sternberg cell, is vastly outnumbered by a surrounding intense inflammatory infiltrate. How this rare neoplastic cell originates, persists, and disseminates in a presumably hostile cellular environment has remained a mystery. Understanding the biology of the Reed-Sternberg cell has been impeded by the rarity of the cell in tumor tissue. Herein, we describe how the application of single-cell genetic analysis has revealed a clonal and, possibly, germinal center B-cell origin of the Reed-Sternberg cell. By phenotype and function, Reed-Sternberg cells are highly interactive with their cellular microenvironment through cell-cell adhesion, expression of members of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, and elaboration of cytokines. Perhaps by their mimicry of immune system cells with antigen-presenting function, Reed-Sternberg cells mediate the unusual clinical and pathologic features of Hodgkin's disease: intense tissue inflammatory infiltrate, fibrosis, and constitutional symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, D.C., USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cossman
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Messineo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bagg
mesh_terms: D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000502:physiology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D005814:Genes, Viral / Q000502:physiology; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D016539:Reed-Sternberg Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor