HNK-1+ cells in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: lack of relation with transferrin receptor expression on malignant cells.

H J Schuurman,P M Kluin,G C De Gast,L Kater

doi:10.1038/bjc.1985.26

Abstract

It has been proposed that Natural Killer (NK) cell activity is involved in host defence against neoplasia, and that NK cells react with or recognize the transferrin receptor (TrR) on target cells. HNK-1 expression has been related to NK cell function. Therefore, in 118 cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) we studied the occurrence and distribution of HNK-1+ cells by immunohistochemistry, and simultaneously assessed the expression of TrR on malignant cells. In NHL of intermediate or high grade malignancy there was uniform expression of TrR on malignant cells. In low grade malignancy NHL, only lymphocytic and lymphoplasmacytoid lymphomas were TrR negative, except for faint staining of proliferation centres. In 23 cases of follicular lymphoma, 9 showed the absence of HNK-1+ cells in neoplastic follicles. In 16/23 cases HNK-1+ cells were present around follicles or in interfollicular areas: 8 of these cases revealed a higher density of HNK-1+ cells at this site than inside the follicles. In 22/26 cases with high grade malignancy NHL, HNK-1+ cells were absent or present in small density, which is different from the presence in higher density in low grade malignancy NHL. We conclude that (i) TrR expression on NHL cells is not obligatory related with histological class or malignancy grade of the tumour, and that (ii) HNK-1+ cells are not universally present in areas of malignant cells, in particular in follicular lymphoma and in NHL of high grade malignancy.

Highlights

In paracortical areas transferrin receptor (TrR) expression was observed on nonlymphoid cells and possibly on a few lymphocytes (Figure la)
non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), lymphocytic and lymphoplasmacytoid immunocytoma, were TrR negative except for foci of TrR expressing cells (Table I, Figure ic): these foci probably represent proliferation centres. Except for these two NHL subtypes of low grade malignancy, the expression of TrR on malignant cells is not related to histological class or
There are two explanations for this discrepancy between cell suspension and tissue section analysis: non-malignant cells, which do not express TrR, contribute to results of cell suspension analysis: the number of these cells may be large in cases of follicular lymphoma of low grade malignancy (Kluin et al, manuscript submitted)

Summary

Methods

The study included 118 NHL specimens presented for histopathological diagnosis to the Institute for Pathology. Each case was classified according to the Kiel classification (Lennert & Mohri, 1978). NHL, intermediate lymphocytic, was added: in the Kiel classification this entity forms a part of NHL, centrocytic. Immunohistochemical typing included application of monoclonal anti-T lymphocyte antibodies of the Leu series (Leu 1, Leu 2, Leu 3, Leu 5, Becton Dickinson, Mountain View, Calif., USA) and OKT 6 (Ortho Diagnostic Systems Inc., Raritan, NJ, USA), and anti-B cell antibodies B1. (Coulter Clone, Luton, UK), BA-1 (Hybritech Inc., San Diego, Calif., USA) or DAKO-pan-B (Dakopatts, Copenhagen, Denmark). These were applied in immunoperoxidase techniques (see below). As control 10 lymph node specimens with normal histopathology were investigated

Results

Discussion

Conclusion