title: Rare expression of T-cell markers in classical Hodgkin's lymphoma.
abstract: Hodgkin's and Reed-Sternberg cells of classical Hodgkin's lymphoma are primarily of B-cell origin, although there are instances of T-cell antigen expression suggesting T-cell origin. We comprehensively analyzed expression of various T-cell antigens in 259 classical Hodgkin's lymphoma cases using the tissue microarray technique. Expression of the T-cell antigens CD2, CD3, CD4, CD5, CD7 and CD8 was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Hodgkin's and Reed-Sternberg cells of T-cell marker-positive cases were microdissected and analyzed by a multiplex polymerase chain reaction for clonal immunoglobulin heavy chain- and T-cell receptor gamma gene rearrangements. In all, 12 cases (5%) expressed at least one T-cell marker in the following order: CD2 in 11 cases, CD4 in five, CD3 in two, and CD5 and CD8 in one case each; there were no CD7-positive cases, and five cases (2%) expressed more than one T-cell antigen. In positive cases, a mean fraction of 40% of the Hodgkin's and Reed-Sternberg cells (range 20-100%) expressed the analyzed T-cell markers. Two cases (<1%) evidenced clonal T-cell receptor gamma gene rearrangement. Phenotypic expression of T-cell antigens in Hodgkin's and Reed-Sternberg cells of classical Hodgkin's lymphoma is rare (5%), while genotypically, less than 1% of classical Hodgkin's lymphomas are of possible T-cell origin. Therefore, T-cell antigen expression on Hodgkin's and Reed-Sternberg cells is aberrant in the majority of cases and only infrequently classical Hodgkin's lymphomas are of T-cell origin.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Alexandar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tzankov
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bourgau
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaiser
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zimpfer
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maurer
authors.forename: Stefano A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Pileri
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Went
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dirnhofer
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism*; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000378:metabolism*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002999:Clone Cells; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D015334:Gene Rearrangement, gamma-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor / Q000235:genetics; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D042282:Microdissection; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011379:Prognosis; D016539:Reed-Sternberg Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D046888:Tissue Array Analysis
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains