Aberrant MT2 positivity distinguishes follicular lymphoma from reactive follicular hyperplasia in B5- and formalin-fixed paraffin sections.

Often, it is difficult to distinguish follicular lymphoma from reactive follicular hyperplasia histologically. Immunotypic evidence of monoclonality cannot be demonstrated routinely or reliably in routine paraffin-embedded sections. To determine whether a panel of monoclonal antibodies reactive with lymphoid cells in paraffin-embedded sections might be useful in distinguishing these confusing proliferations, the authors examined 45 follicular lymphomas and 30 follicular hyperplasia with the following antibodies; L26, B2, MT1, MT2, and UCHL-I. All sections were routine paraffin preparations from formalin- or B5-fixed tissue and were immunostained with the avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase technique. Ninety-two percent of the B5-fixed and 77% of the formalin-fixed lymphomas were MT2 positive. None of the reactive hyperplasias stained positively, and none of the other antibodies demonstrated consistent differences between these benign and malignant proliferations. MT2 marks interfollicular T cells and mantle-zone B cells in normal lymph nodes but does not mark normal germinal centers; this staining pattern is retained in reactive hyperplasia. However, paradoxically, in most follicular lymphomas the neoplastic germinal centers show aberrant MT2 positively. The authors conclude that MT2 may be useful in distinguishing follicular lymphoma from follicular hyperplasia in paraffin sections.     

Monoclonal antibodies reactive in routinely processed tissue sections of malignant lymphoma, with emphasis on T-cell lymphomas

The immunoreactivity of eight monoclonal antibodies was evaluated on 45 routinely processed lymphomas (22 T-cell lymphomas, 11 B-cell lymphomas, and 12 cases of Hodgkin's disease). Two antibodies reactive with leukocyte common (T200) antigens (PD7/26 and 2B11) stained most of the B- and T-cell lymphomas but did not stain the Reed-Sternberg cells and variants in Hodgkin's disease. Two antibodies known to stain B cells (LN-1 and LN-2) reacted with some of the B-cell lymphomas, but LN-2 also reacted with the neoplastic cells in six of 22 T-cell lymphomas and with the Reed-Sternberg variants in eight of 12 cases of Hodgkin's disease. The granulocyte antibody anti-Leu M1 reacted with most cases of Hodgkin's disease but also reacted with two of 11 B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. An antibody to epithelial membrane antigen (anti-EMA) stained some cases of T-cell lymphoma, B-cell lymphoma, and Hodgkin's disease. Leu 7 was expressed in one T-cell lymphoma and in one case of Hodgkin's disease. A novel antibody reactive with T cells (L60) stained all cases of T-cell lymphoma but also stained some cases of B-cell lymphoma and one case of Hodgkin's disease. We conclude that none of these antibodies, when used alone on routinely fixed paraffin-embedded material, is completely sensitive and specific for T-cell lymphoma, B-cell lymphoma, or Hodgkin's disease. However, a panel of antibodies is useful in distinguishing Hodgkin's disease from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and in suggesting the B- or T-cell phenotype of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.     

Immunohistochemical analysis of human lymphomas with monoclonal antibodies to B cell and Ia antigens reactive in paraffin sections

Monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) to B cell- and T cell-specific antigens uniformly have been restricted in their use to cell suspension or frozen section techniques because the antigens that they identify are either masked or lost in the fixation or paraffin-embedding processes. Antiimmunoglobulin antisera, although readily identifying cytoplasmic immunoglobulin in paraffin sections, has not been as useful as originally hoped since the majority of B cell lymphomas express surface immunoglobulins, which requires cell suspensions or frozen sections for detection. Because cell suspension procedures disrupt tissue architecture and frozen section techniques grossly distort morphology, neither method allows the combination of optimal morphologic and immunologic classification of lymphomas. We recently reported two MoAbs, LN-1 and LN-2, that react with B cells in paraffin sections. LN-1 reacts with the surface membrane and cytoplasm of germinal center B cells. LN-2 reacts uniquely with the nuclear membrane and cytoplasm of mantle zone and germinal center B cells and interdigitating histiocytes. We have also identified a new MoAb, LN-3, that reacts with the HLA-DR antigen in paraffin sections. We now report the use of LN-1, LN-2, and LN-3 in the analysis of paraffin sections from 58 non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and 15 cases of Hodgkin's disease. The types of cells reactive with these MoAbs in neoplastic lymphoid proliferations largely recapitulate their benign morphologic and immunologic counterparts. As a panel, LN-1, LN-2, and LN-3 were reactive with 98% of B cell lymphomas, and LN-1 and LN-2 were negative on all T cell lymphomas. In addition to identifying the cell of origin of these malignant proliferations, these MoAbs were also useful for identifying architectural features in neoplastic lymph nodes. Thus, these reagents provide the ability to assess the immunologic phenotype of neoplastic lymphocytes in conjunction with the critical morphologic criteria requiring paraffin embedding.     

Antigen-specific B cell tumors of mice

The topics covered in this review include: the origin and availability of murine B cell lymphomas bearing immunoglobulins of known antigen reactivity; their etiology and the role of antigen in lymphomagenesis; the extent to which such tumors are true analogs of normal B cells; and the knowledge of B cell differentiation which has been derived from the study of these cells. There is little or no evidence that B lymphomas with preselected antigen specificity can be induced at will. However, there is evidence that genetic factors influencing idiotype specific regulation can predispose particular subsets of B cells to neoplastic transformation, and thereby indirectly influence the antigen specificity of the resultant lymphomas. The bulk of evidence suggests that, except for growth control characteristics, recently derived B cell lymphomas retain many of the features of normal lymphocytes. Thus, mechanisms elucidated by study of lymphomas are probably reflective of normal B cell biology.     

Production of two monoclonal antibodies (FB1 AND FB21) useful for the identification of human B lymphocytes in formalin-fixed,paraffin-embedded tissues

Two monoclonal antibodies (FBI and FB21) reactive in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections are reported in this paper. FB1 and FB21 recognize a cytoplasmic antigen and a surface antigen of B cells, respectively. FBI reacts with mantle zone (MZ) B cells, germinal centre (GC) cells, and marginal zone (MrZ) B cells, but not with T cells in lymphoid tissues. FB21 reacts with MZ B cells, GC cells in lymphoid tissues, and T cells of peripheral blood, but not with MrZ B cells in the spleen. Neither monoclonal antibody (MoAb) reacts with monocytes, granulocytes, or plasma cells. FB1 reacted with all the B-cell lymphomas tested and with CD20-positive Reed-Sternberg cells in two of five cases of Hodgkin's disease, but not with multiple myelomas or T-cell lymphomas. FB21 reacted with B-cell lymphoma in 20 of 22 cases, but not with multiple myelomas, T-cell lymphomas, or Reed-Sternberg cells of Hodgkin's disease. Immunoprecipitation studies revealed that FB1 recognizes the same two polypeptide chains that are recognized by L26 and is a member of the CD20 antibody cluster. FB21 was thought to recognize a sialic acid-dependent carbohydrate epitope and this was confirmed at the Fifth International Conference on Human Leukocyte Differentiation Antigens (Boston, 1993) FB21 did not react with splenic MrZ B cells and was different from the pan B markers reported previously [CD20 (L26), CD45RA (MB1), and CD74 (LN-2)]. FB21 recognizes a subset of B cells and appears to be closely related to CD75/76 antibodies. FB1 and FB21 are useful MoAbs for the diagnosis and analysis of B-cell lymphomas.     

Expression of a T-cell antigen (Leu-1) by B-cell lymphomas.

The Leu-1 antigen has been defined by monoclonal antibodies (L17F12, T101, and OKT-1) as a pan-T-cell antigen present on all human peripheral blood T cells and thymocytes. Although originally thought to be confined to T-cell lineage, some cases of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia have been found to react with these antibodies. Using a frozen section immunoperoxidase staining technique, 125 lymphomas with B-cell differentiation were examined for the presence of Leu-1 antigen. Leu-1 antigen was detected in 4 of 11 cases of diffuse small lymphocytic lymphoma (Rappaport''s DWDL) and 3 of 4 cases of diffuse intermediate lymphocytic lymphoma. Follicular lymphomas less often expressed this antigen--2 of 29 cases of the small cleaved cell type (Rappaport''s NPDL), none of 13 cases of mixed small cleaved and large cell type (Rappaport''s NM), and 1 of 6 cases of large cell type (Rappaport''s NH). Diffuse lymphomas of presumed follicular center cell origin expressed this antigen infrequently as well--1 of 3 cases of the small cleaved cell type (Rappaport''s DPDL), neither of 2 cases of mixed small cleaved and large cell type (Rappaport''s DM), and 3 of 43 of large cell type (cleaved/noncleaved) (Rappaport''s DH). Diffuse large cell, immunoblastic lymphoma of B-cell type expressed Leu-1 in 1 of 6 cases. None of the 3 cases of Burkitt''s lymphoma or of the three small noncleaved non-Burkitt''s lymphoma (Rappaport''s undifferentiated) expressed detectable Leu-1. B-lymphoblastic lymphoma (1 case) and B-cell unclassified lymphoma (1 case) both failed to express detectable Leu-1. It appears that this pan-T-cell antigen is mainly found on those B-cell lymphomas composed predominantly of small lymphocytes. This finding may be of use in distinguishing extranodal neoplastic collections of small lymphocytes from lymphocytic hyperplasias.     

Utilization of monoclonal antibody L26 in the identification and confirmation of B-cell lymphomas. A sensitive and specific marker applicable to formalin-and B5-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues.

Immunophenotypic analysis of paraffin-embedded tissues of lymphoproliferative disorders has been facilitated by recent developments of monoclonal antibodies that react with epitopes that survive histologic processing. Leukocyte common antigen (LCA) antibody has made a significant contribution to the immunocytochemical separation of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas from nonlymphoid neoplasms. However, a small percentage of lymphomas, particularly some large cell or immunoblastic B-cell tumors, will not label with LCA antibody. Other antibodies, directed against B lymphocytes, experience problems of specificity and a lack of sensitivity when applied to formalin-fixed specimens. The authors recently investigated a monoclonal antibody (L26) that demonstrates excellent specificity and sensitivity for B lymphocytes, and tumors derived from them, in formalin- and B5-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue. The avidin-biotin peroxidase complex (ABC) technique was utilized for immunostaining 95 cases of malignant lymphoproliferative disorders and a variety of normal and neoplastic nonlymphoid tissues. When applied to sections of benign lymphoid tissue, the L26 antibody labeled germinal center cells, mantle zone and scattered interfollicular lymphocytes, but not histiocytes or plasma cells. L26 marked 100% (44/44) of the large cell and immunoblastic B-cell lymphomas, along with 1 case of pre-B cell lymphoblastic lymphoma. This included 8 cases that were LCA-negative. None of the T-cell lymphomas or plasma cell tumors studied demonstrated L26 immunostaining. No normal, benign, or neoplastic nonlymphoid tissues examined stained with this antibody. L26 successfully labels B lymphocytes and B-cell lymphomas in routinely processed tissues, often with greater sensitivity and intensity than LCA. This antibody should prove invaluable in the investigation of atypical lymphoid proliferations and the identification of B-cell derived lymphomas, when fresh or frozen tissue is unavailable for analysis.     

Cytochemical identification of tetrahydrofolate in human leukocytes.

Utilizing the ability of molybdenum dioxide dichloride to form a black insoluble precipitate with tetrahydrofolate, a cytochemical test for rapid detection of tetrahydrofolate in human leukocytes was developed. The test may be useful in distinguishing deficiency of vitamin B12 or folate or both from other disorders of erythropoiesis characterized by megaloblastic erythropoiesis.     

Immunopathology of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas.

In this study the authors attempted to establish immunopathologic criteria for the distinction of various T-cell lymphomas affecting the skin. We studied skin specimens from 27 patients with mycosis fungoides (MF) (n = 12), the Sézary syndrome (SS) (n = 6), adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) (n = 4), and nonepidermotropic T-cell lymphoma of large cell (n = 4) and lymphoblastic (n = 1) types. Identification of tumor cells in mixed cell populations and detection of weak expression of surface antigens by tumor cells was facilitated by immunoelectron microscopy. The mature helper T-cell phenotype (T11+ T3+ T4+) was found in 14 of 18 cases of MF/SS. One case of MF had a cytotoxic/suppressor (T4- T8+ 3A1+) phenotype; one with frequent blastic cells showed only weak expression of T4 antigen; 2 cases of SS were T11-. Tumor cells infiltrating the skin expressed 3Al antigen in 44% and cellular activation antigens Ia and/or Tac in 78% of patients with MF/SS. No consistent phenotypic differences were found between ATL cells from ATLV (HTLV) antibody-positive patients and tumor cells of patients with MF/SS who lacked this antibody. In contrast, a group of nonepidermotropic T-cell lymphomas showed phenotypic differences from MF/SS and ATL in all but 1 case. These cases were distinguished by the frequent absence of T3, T4, and Leu 1 antigens in 3 large-cell lymphomas; frequent expression of Ki-1 antigen, a Hodgkin's disease-associated antigen, in 2 cases with RS-like cells; and an immature thymocyte phenotype in lymphoblastic lymphoma. These findings demonstrate that tumor-cell phenotypes can be useful in distinguishing different histologic types of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.     

Application of a T cell receptor antibody beta F1 for immunophenotypic analysis of malignant lymphomas

One hundred sixty-five non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (101 B, 63 T, one histiocytic) were immunostained with an antibody (beta F1) reactive with a common framework determinant on the beta-subunit of the T cell receptor (TCR). beta F1 stained T lymphomas exclusively, including 53% of peripheral T cell lymphomas but only 33% of T lymphoblastic lymphomas. When expression of beta F1 and CD3 were considered together, 4 types of T lymphoma were delineated: 1) beta F1+CD3+; 2) beta F1+CD3-; 3) beta F1-CD3+, and 4) beta F1-CD3-. The first represented lymphomas with classical T immunophenotype. The second might represent T lymphomas with aberrant loss of CD3 expression. The third might represent T lymphomas with a putative second TCR or cases with an immature phenotype expressing cytoplasmic CD3 only. The fourth type included cases that may be derived from natural killer cells instead of T cells, cases of T lymphoma with aberrant loss of both beta F1 and CD3, and some cases of immature T cell (lymphoblastic) lymphoma. beta F1-CD3- lymphomas exhibited a remarkable predilection for the nasal region. beta F1 is useful in studying T cell lymphomas and distinguishing a novel immunophenotype frequently expressed by nasal lymphomas.     

Discordant expression of immunoglobulin and its associated molecule mb-1/CD79a is frequently found in mediastinal large B cell lymphomas.

Mediastinal large B cell lymphomas are uncommon neoplasms that are thought to originate from thymic B cells. An unusual feature of these neoplasms is that they often lack surface immunoglobulin (Ig), a molecule ubiquitously expressed by most mature B cells. In the present study we have analyzed 12 cases of mediastinal large B cell lymphoma for the expression of the mb-1/CD79a polypeptide. This is a component, together with B29/CD79b, of a heterodimer that is associated with surface Ig on normal B cells. Our aim was to see whether loss of Ig in this type of lymphoma is associated with loss of the accompanying CD79a molecule. We have also evaluated 128 B cell lymphomas of other categories to see whether any of them show discordance between mb-1 and Ig expression and analyzed 30 T cell lymphomas as Ig-negative controls. We found that 5 of the 7 mediastinal large B cell lymphomas with interpretable staining results for both mb-1 and Ig, lack Ig but expressed CD79a (mb-1). This phenotype was very rare in other categories of B cell lymphoma, being found among 110 cases in only 5 cases that were all follicular lymphoma. The remaining 105 B cell lymphomas displayed mb-1+/Ig+ phenotype. All 30 T cell lymphomas were mb-1 negative. We conclude that discordant mb-1/Ig expression occurs commonly in mediastinal large B cell lymphomas. In addition, the finding that 11 of 12 of these neoplasms express a phenotype (CD10-, CD19+, CD20+, CD21-, CD22+, CD23-/+) that is very similar to that described for thymic medullary B cells reinforces the idea that most mediastinal large B cell lymphomas are of thymic B cell origin. The correlation between mb-1 and Ig staining patterns in B cell lymphomas of other categories reveals that in the majority (90%), expression of the antigen receptor complex parallels that of mature B cells. These data therefore confirm that the expression of the mb-1 protein provides independent strong evidence for the B lineage of lymphomas and may be used for their routine phenotypic characterization.     

The dendritic reticulum cell pattern in B cell lymphomas of the small cleaved, mixed, and large cell types: an immunohistochemical study of 48 cases

An immunohistochemical study was designed to study the dendritic reticulum cell (DRC) patterns in 48 cases of B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas of the small cleaved, mixed, and large cell types, both follicular (20 cases) and diffuse (28 cases), in order to evaluate the possible influence of DRCs on homing and the differentiation of neoplastic B cells. Three DRC patterns were observed. In the follicular lymphomas, DRCs constituted nodular networks of variable density. In the diffuse lymphomas, DRCs were present either as isolated and scattered cells (17 cases) or constituted irregular meshworks of variable sizes (11 cases). These DRC patterns correlate with B cell immunophenotypes. Like follicular lymphomas, and unlike diffuse lymphomas without DRC networks, diffuse lymphomas with DRC networks constantly expressed the pan B antigens and one marker characteristic of normal germinal center cells, CD21 antigen, the C3d receptor. The finding of organized DRC networks in a significant number of diffuse lymphomas does not substantiate the hypothesis that DRCs may play a role in the homing of neoplastic B cells. The correlations observed between DRC patterns and B cell immunophenotypes suggest that the persistence and/or the development of DRC networks within follicular center cell-type lymphomas are related to the degree of functional differentiation of neoplastic B cells.     

Cyno-EBV (EBV-related herpesvirus from cynomolgus macaques) induces rabbit malignant lymphomas and their tumor cell lines frequently show specific chromosomal abnormalities.

Malignant lymphoma (ML) induction in rabbits by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-related herpesvirus of cynomolgus (Cyno-EBV) is reported. Twenty-seven of 30 (90%) rabbits inoculated intravenously with Cyno-EBV-producing simian (cynomolgus) lymphocyte cell line (Ts-B6) cells developed ML between 45 and 115 days after inoculation. The peroral inoculation of Ts-B6 cells induced ML in only 2 of 10 (20%) rabbits (75 to 85 days). Five of 6 (83%) rabbits injected with cell-free pellets from Ts-B6 cultures also developed ML (27 to 122 days). Antibody response to the viral capsid antigen of EBV was also detected in sera from rabbits inoculated with Ts-B6. ML of the large cell or mixed type infiltrated diffusely in many organs, frequently involving the spleen, liver, kidneys, heart, and less frequently the lungs, lymph nodes, brain, eyes, gastrointestinal tract, thymus, and bone marrow. A chromosomal analysis of five lymphoma cell lines established from tumor-bearing rabbits revealed the rabbit karyotype. Three of these cell lines showed the chromosomal abnormalities with 12q- or t (7p+:12q-). EBV-encoded small RNA-1 and EBV-associated nuclear antigen 1 were expressed in Ts-B6 cells, the tumor tissues, and all rabbit cell lines by in situ hybridization and by immunofluorescence tests, respectively. EBV DNA was also detected in Ts-B6 cells and rabbit lymphoma cell lines by polymerase chain reaction and Southern blot analysis. The Southern blots of EBV termini revealed oligoclonal bands in the Cyno-EBV-induced rabbit lymphomas. No lymphoma was induced by the inoculation of B95-8 (EBV-producing cells) or peripheral leukocytes from normal cynomolgus (controls). These data suggest that the high rate of lymphoma induction in rabbits may be caused not by human EBV (B95-8) but by Cyno-EBV from Ts-B6 cells. A sequence analysis of the IR1 (BamHIW) region of Cyno-EBV revealed that this region is quite similar to that of herpesvirus Macaca fascicularis 1, which is a causative agent for a monkey model of AIDS-related lymphomas. The present rabbit model of lymphoma with specific chromosomal abnormalities is very useful to clarify the role of EBV in human EBV-associated lymphoma and provides a means for studying prophylactic and therapeutic regimens.     

Receptor revision of immunoglobulin heavy chain genes in human MALT lymphomas.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Rearrangement of immunoglobulin gene segments, leading to B cells with functional receptors, is thought to be largely restricted to developing immature B cells in bone marrow. However, accumulating evidence suggests that mature B cells occasionally modify their antigen specificity by VH segment replacements during the germinal centre reaction to enhance antigen affinity, or to overcome self reactive antigen receptors. Although malignant B cells maintain the features of their normal counterparts in most instances, to date, such replacements have not been described for human B cell lymphomas. METHODS: Rearranged immunoglobulin heavy chain genes from two extranodal marginal zone B cell lymphomas were amplified, cloned, and sequenced. Sequences with identical CDR3 regions were selected and aligned to each other and public databases. RESULTS: VH replacements were seen in two extranodal marginal zone B cell lymphomas. In line with the hypothesis that in mature B cells these replacements are associated with active somatic hypermutation, in addition to VH replacement, different mutation patterns were seen in the revised VH portions. In the remaining common 3'-VH regions, these mutations could be used to establish a phylogenetic relation between the sequences, rendering the possibility of artefactual chimaeric polymerase chain reaction products very unlikely. CONCLUSIONS: These results support the view that VH replacements are a further mechanism for reshaping antigen affinity and specificity, and indicate that these receptor modifications are not restricted to normal and reactive germinal centre B cells, but may also occur in close association with the development of malignant B cell lymphomas.     

A monoclonal antibody (OPT1) to T cells which is available for paraffin-embedded materials

A monoclonal antibody (MAb), OPT1, reactive with T cells in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections, has been identified through immunization with activated T cells from peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). The antibody is an IgG1 antibody as demonstrated by the Ouchterlony technique. By cytofluorometric analysis, almost all CD3+ lymphocytes and only a few CD20+ lymphocytes of peripheral blood expressed the OPT1 antigen. Nonhematolymphoid cell lines were negative for OPT1 by the immunoperoxidase staining using acetone-fixed cell lines. On the contrary, peripheral T cells, cells of two T cell lines out of four and a part of the cells of one B cell line out of two were positive for OPT1. The immunoperoxidase staining of paraffin-embedded tissue sections revealed that most of lymphocytes in T cell areas of lymph nodes expressed OPT1 antigen. Some lymphocytes in both cortex and medulla of the thymus and erythroid precursors of the bone marrow were OPT1+. In the malignant lymphoma series, approximately 90% of T cell lymphomas and 6% of B cell lymphomas reacted with OPT1. None of the Reed-Sternberg cells nor Hodgkin cells in Hodgkin's disease were positive. Consequently, OPT1 may be useful for the diagnosis and study of malignant lymphomas and other related lesions.     

A novel monoclonal antibody (FUN-1) identifies an activation antigen in cells of the B-cell lineage and Reed—Sternberg cells

The characterization of a new monoclonal antibody (MoAb) recognizing a human B-cell activation antigen, designated FUN-1, is described in this paper. Immunoprecipitation revealed that FUN-1 recognizes an antigen with a molecular weight (MW) of 75 kD. FUN-1 reacts with pokeweed mitogen-activated B lymphocytes and monocytes of peripheral blood, but not with unstimulated lymphocytes or granulocytes. It also reacts with large lymphoid cells in germinal centres, Epstein–Barr virus-transformed B cell lines, large B-cell lymphomas, Ki-1-positive anaplastic largecell lymphomas, and Reed–Sternberg cells of Hodgkin's disease, but not with Concanavalin A-activated T cells, acute lymphoblastic leukaemias, T-cell lymphomas, or low-grade B-cell leukaemias. These findings indicate that FUN-1 recognizes a previously unreported B-cell activation antigen. This MoAb appears to be useful for the study of maturation and differentiation in the B-cell lineage as well as for the immunohistochemical diagnosis of B-cell lymphomas and Hodgkin's disease.     

The value of immunohistochemistry on paraffin wax embedded tissue sections in the differentiation of small lymphocytic and mantle cell lymphomas.

AIMS: To determine whether immunohistochemistry applied to paraffin wax embedded biopsy tissue can be used to distinguish between B-small lymphocytic lymphoma (B-SLL) and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). METHODS: Formalin fixed, paraffin wax embedded tissue blocks of 12 cases of B-SLL and 12 cases of MCL were retrieved from the files of the Department of Pathology, Southampton University Hospitals Trust. Following antigen retrieval, where appropriate, sections were stained for CD3, CD5, CD20, CD23, CD43, Cyclin D, PGP9.5, and MIB1 using a streptavidin-biotin complex technique. RESULTS: CD20 stained the neoplastic cells of B-SLL and MCL, and CD3 labelled the reactive T cells in these tumours. In B-SLL, the T cells were generally dispersed among the tumour cells, whereas in MCL they often formed bands around tumour cell nodules. CD5 could be detected on T cells, following antigen retrieval. The level of expression on B cells of B-SLL and MCL was generally too low to allow detection in paraffin wax embedded tissues. CD23 stained B-SLL but not MCL. However, it could be detected in only five of the 12 cases of B-SLL. CD43 could be detected in most cases of B-SLL and MCL. It is not, therefore, of value in distinguishing between these tumours. It will, however, help in the differentiation of B-SLL and MCL from other low grade B cell lymphomas, such as follicle centre cell and marginal zone lymphomas. Cyclin D was expressed in all of the MCL but in none of the B-SLL. PGP9.5 showed reactivity in most cases of MCL and much weaker reactivity in B-SLL. The proliferation indexes of MCL were generally higher than those of B-SLL, as measured by MIB1 labelling. Both tumours, however, showed a wide range of values and considerable overlap. CONCLUSION: Staining for Cyclin D is the most reliable immunohistochemical mean of differentiating between B-SLL an MCL. High levels of PGP9.5, expressed in MCL, may be related to the degradation of Cyclin D by the ubiquitin pathway.     

Nature of non-B, non-T lymphomas: an immunohistological study on frozen tissues using monoclonal antibodies

In a previous study employing conventional immunological marker analysis we found that 17% of high grade malignant lymphomas were devoid of cytoplasmic and membrane immunoglobulin and also sheep erythrocyte receptors. Cryostat sections from 24 of these cases (four of low grade and 20 of high grade malignancy) were stained with a panel of 30 monoclonal antibodies and six polyclonal antisera using a sensitive immunoperoxidase method. All tumours expressed the leucocyte common antigen (detected by monoclonal antibody 2D1) and all lacked epithelial cytokeratin (monoclonal antibody LE61), confirming their haematopoietic origin. All but one of the lymphomas expressed antigens characteristic of either B cells (17 cases) or T cells (six cases), while one case (morphologically a centroblastic lymphoma) had an unusual dual phenotype in which strong staining for T6 (marker of immature T cells) was associated with expression of the pan B lymphocyte antigens detectable with To15, anti-B1, anti-Leu12. This case was therefore classified as a B cell lymphoma showing aberrant expression of the T6 antigen. The pan B cell antibodies (To15, anti-B1, anti-Leu12) all appeared highly specific and sensitive, but the simultaneous use of all three monoclonal antibodies was necessary to detect the B cell nature in each of the 18 lymphomas. A wider panel of monoclonal antibodies was required to detect T lymphomas since these often disclosed atypical and restricted phenotypes. To15 and UCHT1 were the most reliable antibodies for the detection of B and T cell neoplasms, respectively. We conclude that most, if not all, "non-B, non-T" lymphomas are of either B or T lymphocyte origin and that monoclonal antibodies provide indispensable tools in their classification and diagnosis.