Infection-associated lymphomas derived from marginal zone B cells: a model of antigen-driven lymphoproliferation.
Non-Hodgkin lymphomas develop from nodal and extranodal lymphoid tissues. A distinct subset of extranodal lymphomas arising from B cells of the marginal zone (MZ) of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) or spleen has been individualized. Growing evidence indicates that MZ lymphomas are associated with chronic antigenic stimulation by microbial pathogens and/or autoantigens. The list of microbial species associated with MZ lymphoproliferations has grown longer with molecular investigations and now comprises at least 5 distinct members: H. pylori, C. jejuni, B. burgdorferi, C. psittaci, and hepatitis C virus (HCV), which have been associated with gastric lymphoma, immunoproliferative small intestinal disease, cutaneous lymphoma, ocular lymphoma, and spleen lymphoma, respectively. A pathophysiologic scenario involving chronic and sustained stimulation of the immune system leading to lymphoid transformation has emerged. It defines a distinct category of infection-associated lymphoid malignancies, in which the infectious agent does not directly infect and transform lymphoid cells, as do the lymphotropic oncogenic viruses Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8), and human T-lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1), but rather indirectly increases the probability of lymphoid transformation by chronically stimulating the immune system to maintain a protracted proliferative state.
Suarez
Felipe
F
Department of Hematology, Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, René Descartes-Paris 5 University Medical School, 75743 Paris Cedex 15, France.
Lortholary
Olivier
O
Hermine
Olivier
O
Lecuit
Marc
M
D017951:Antigen Presentation / Q000276:immunology*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D018448:Models, Immunological
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial