Abstract
A panel of monoclonal antileucocyte antibodies was used in a study of Hodgkin's disease (HD) to explore the phenotypic characteristics of Sternberg-Reed and related cells (collectively termed HD cells). Cryostat preparations of 31 lymph nodes and 2 spleens were obtained from 30 patients with active HD. The histological diagnoses were: lymphocyte predominance (LP), 4 patients; nodular sclerosis (NS), 22; mixed cellularity (MC), 2; lymphocyte depletion (LD), 2. The monoclonal antibodies used were: OKT3, T11, Leu-1 (pan T cell specific); Leu-3A (T "helper" specific); Leu-2A, OKT8 (T "suppressor" specific); immunoglobulin (Ig) antibodies: anti kappa and lambda light chains, anti mu and delta heavy chains; B1 (anti B lymphocyte); CA2-11 (anti HLA-DR); OKM1, Mo-2 (anti myeloid/monocyte); OKT9 (anti transferrin receptor); Leu-7 (anti "NK" cell) and J5 (anti common ALL antigen). Reactions with peanut lectin (PNL) were also studied. The reactions were developed using a modified "ABC" immunoperoxidase technique. Specific attention was paid to the cell surface phenotype and anatomical localisation of HD cells in relation to surrounding T and B lymphocytes. HD cells formed distinct "rosettes" with T cells of "helper" phenotype although in 3 cases (1: LP, 2: NS) Leu-7 positive cells formed a prominent component of these interactions. In partially involved lymph node and spleen, HD cells were prominently distributed in a perifollicular distribution. In addition follicular mantle zones were frequently infiltrated by HD cells, the degree of ensuing destruction being related to the extent of lymph node effacement by HD. In 2 cases (1: NS, 1: LD) HD cells expressed clear, positive reactions with B1 although in neither of these cases nor in any other instance, was surface Ig expressed on the HD cell surface. The great majority of HD cells reacted positively with both OKT9 and, as previously reported, with anti HLA-DR antibody. In addition, HD cells demonstrated intense surface and cytoplasmic staining with PNL. HD cells were negative with all other antibodies. On the basis of these findings, no lineage specificity can confidently be attributed to the HD cell. However, the pattern of immunohistological reactions suggest that it is related to a cell of B follicular origins.
Highlights
In this study we report some original findings which, it is hoped, may help to elucidate the nature of these cells
Partial lymph node involvement by Hodgkin's disease (HD) was noted in 8/31 instances (3: lymphocyte predominance (LP), 5: nodular sclerosis (NS)); where secondary follicles were clearly present, the association of HD cells with mantle zones was striking
In 2/3 cases of LP and one case of NS in the "cellular phase" (NSCP) showing marked lymphocyte predominance, between 25% and 100% of the mantle zones of secondary follicles were infiltrated by small numbers of HD cells
Summary
Thirty patients with active Hodgkin's disease form the basis of this study (Table I). Clinical and pathological stage was established according to the Ann Arbor criteria (Carbone et al, 1971) and histological type determined by one of us (AGS) according to the Rye nomenclature (Lukes et al, 1966). Thirty-one involved lymph nodes and 2 involved spleens from the 30 patients were examined. Lymph nodes were obtained fresh, at the time of excision biopsy. These were bisected, one half retained for study, the other fixed in 10% formal saline for histopathological examination. The 2 involved spleens were removed at staging laparotomy, sectioned unfixed and representative portions retained for study. Sections (5pm) were cut on a cryostat at -20°C, thaw-mounted on chrome alum/gelatine-coated glass slides and fixed in acetone for 10min
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