Gains of 2p involving the REL locus correlate with nuclear c-Rel protein accumulation in neoplastic cells of classical Hodgkin lymphoma.
Structural aberrations of the short arm of chromosome 2, mostly resulting in gains of 2p13 approximately 16, have recently been described as being highly recurrent in Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg (HRS) cells of classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL). As these gains consistently lead to increased copy numbers of the REL oncogene locus, we investigated the expression of the c-Rel protein in a series of 30 cHL cases with known genomic REL status as determined by comparative genomic hybridization and interphase cytogenetics. Expression of the c-Rel protein was investigated in 26 biopsies by immunohistochemistry. Distinct patterns were observed in HRS cells with no staining, cytoplasmic, and/or nuclear staining for c-Rel. All 13 samples with additional copies of the REL locus displayed nuclear staining for c-Rel, while 13 cHL samples lacking chromosome 2 (2p) gains displayed a significantly lower proportion or complete absence of HRS cells with nuclear c-Rel expression. Detailed analysis using combined immunophenotyping and interphase cytogenetics of individual HRS cells demonstrated that REL gains correlated with the presence of nuclear c-Rel staining. Additionally, in 2 cHL samples with translocation breakpoints in 2p13 approximately 16, nuclear staining of c-Rel was observed; in one of them the staining pattern was indicative of a truncated c-Rel protein. The correlation between structural aberrations involving the REL locus and nuclear c-Rel accumulation in HRS cells qualifies REL as a target gene of the frequent gains in 2p in cHL. The data suggest that REL aberrations are a genetic mechanism contributing to constitutive nuclear factor (NF)-kappa B/Rel activation in cHL.
Barth
Thomas F E
TF
Abteilung für Pathologie des Universitätsklinikums Ulm, Germany.
Martin-Subero
Josée I
JI
Joos
Stefan
S
Menz
Christiane K
CK
Hasel
Cornelia
C
Mechtersheimer
Gunhild
G
Parwaresch
Reza M
RM
Lichter
Peter
P
Siebert
Reiner
R
Möoller
Peter
P
D002460:Cell Line; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D002889:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics; D020573:Genes, rel; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D007399:Interphase; D007668:Kidney / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D020569:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-rel / Q000502:physiology*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D016539:Reed-Sternberg Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014162:Transfection; D014178:Translocation, Genetic
D016328:NF-kappa B; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D020569:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-rel; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins