Heterogeneity of Histiocytes in Primary Lung Cancer Stained with Anti-S100 Protein, Lysozyme and OKT 6 Antibodies

The heterogeneity of histiocytes in primary lung cancer wasinvestigated by immunohistochemical methods using anti-Sl0Oprotein and anti-lysozyme anti bodies on paraffin sections andOKT-6 monoclonal antibody on frozen sections. T-zone histiocytes (Langerhans cells and their precursors stainedby anti-SlOO protein and/or OKT-6 monoclonal antibodies) heavilyinfiltrated tumor tissues and regional lymph nodes in casesof moderately or well-differentiated adenocarcinoma, especiallyin areas of papillary growth or bronchiolo-alveolar pattern.These cells were interspersed amongst tumor cells showing dendriticfigures and were occasionally present in squamous cell carcinoma.However. they were seldom found in other histological types,particularly in small cell carcinoma and carcinoid tumor. Thedistribution of these cells was different from that of lysozyme-positivemacrophages. In this connection, T-zone histiocytes were thoughtto have a different immunological function from that of themonocyte-macrophage series against lung cancer. The closelysimilar reactivity of T-zone histiocytes with anti-Sl00 proteinand OKT-6 monoclonal antibodies indicated that these two markerscan be employed for paraffin and frozen sections, respectively. Present address: The Second Department of Surgery, Kyushu UniversitySchool of Medicine, Fukuoka, Japan.