title: Flow cytometric analysis of normal and reactive spleen.
abstract: Spleen is surgically removed for both non-neoplastic and neoplastic pathologies. A significant proportion of splenectomy specimens require distinguishing between reactive and neoplastic conditions (eg lymphoma). To establish a 'normal' reference range for the spleen lymphocyte subsets, fresh samples of benign, reactive spleens obtained from adult patients (N=12) and samples of normal spleen obtained from cadaveric transplant donors (N=14) were analyzed using three- and four-color flow cytometry. Study of pan-B, -T, and -NK marker expression revealed that the frequency of T cells is higher and that of B cells is lower in reactive (non-neoplastic) compared to normal (cadaveric) spleen. Furthermore, our study established a frame of reference for cell markers commonly used for immunophenotyping of lymphoma, and identified discrete lymphocyte subsets, such as early plasma cells and T cells carrying the phenotype of the NK/T subset. These results will facilitate an accurate interpretation of the flow cytometric analysis of human spleen lymphocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA. aic4@columbia.edu
authors.forename: Adriana I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Colovai
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giatzikis
authors.forename: Eric K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Mushahid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Farooqi
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Suciu-Foca
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cattoretti
authors.forename: Attilio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Orazi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping / Q000379:methods; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology