Class III beta-tubulin shows unique expression patterns in a variety of neoplastic and non-neoplastic lymphoproliferative disorders.
Class III beta-tubulin (TUBB3) expression in carcinoma is associated with resistance to tubulin-binding chemotherapeutic agents. Recently, follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) were reported to express TUBB3 under physiologic conditions. We investigated TUBB3 expression in a wide range of lymphoproliferative disorders using immunohistochemistry. Dual immunostaining for Bcl-6 and TUBB3 revealed that some germinal center B cells also express TUBB3 in addition to FDCs. In Hodgkin lymphomas (HLs), 47.1% (40/85) expressed TUBB3 in the tumor cells with an all-or-none pattern. TUBB3 expression in HL was more common in mixed cellularity type than nodular sclerosis type (P=0.032). Among non-HLs, 79.3% (23/29) of anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), 8% (2/25) of extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma, and 75% (21/28) of Burkitt lymphoma showed TUBB3 expression with an all-or-none pattern. Of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, 15.2% (32/210) expressed TUBB3 in a heterogeneous pattern. In ALCL, TUBB3 expression was more common in systemic ALCL than in primary cutaneous ALCL (P=0.046). Diffuse large B-cell lymphomas with a germinal center B-like subgroup exhibited TUBB3 expression more frequently than non-GCB-like subgroup (P=0.01). Otherwise, none of the 18 angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphomas; 18 peripheral T-cell lymphomas, not otherwise specified; 12 follicular lymphomas; 62 marginal zone lymphomas; 7 mantle cell lymphomas; 8 small lymphocytic lymphomas; or 2 FDC sarcomas expressed TUBB3. In angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma and Castleman disease, TUBB3 was positive in immunoblasts corresponding to Epstein-Barr virus-infected or Kaposi sarcoma herpes virus-infected cells. A variety of neoplastic and non-neoplastic lymphoproliferative disorders exhibited characteristic TUBB3 expression patterns; these results suggest potential for diagnostic utility, some insight into the pathobiology of TUBB3 expression, and potential therapeutic implications.
Yoon
Sun Och
SO
Department of Pathology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Kim
Wook Youn
WY
Go
Heounjeong
H
Paik
Jin Ho
JH
Kim
Ji Eun
JE
Kim
Young A
YA
Huh
Joo R
JR
Jeon
Yoon Kyung
YK
Kim
Chul-Woo
CW
D005871:Castleman Disease / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D020566:Dendritic Cells, Follicular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018858:Germinal Center / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007119:Immunoblastic Lymphadenopathy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016399:Lymphoma, T-Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D051560:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-6; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014404:Tubulin / Q000378:metabolism*
C084103:BCL6 protein, human; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D051560:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-6; C498585:TUBB3 protein, human; D014404:Tubulin