Evidence for the detection of the normal counterpart of hodgkin and sternberg‐reed cells

Abstract

To clarify the origin of Hodgkin (H) and Sternberg‐Reed (SR) cells, frozen sections of lymph nodes from 30 patients with Hodgkin's disease were immunostained with a large panel of monoclonal antibodies reactive with cells of lymphoid tissue and granulopoiesis. The results showed that: (a) H and SR cells are devoid of markers specific to, or characteristic of B cells, macrophages, dendritic reticulum cells, interdigitating cells, or cells of erythropoietic or thrombopoietic origin; (b) the vast majority of H and SR cells contain granulocyte‐related antigens detectable with the monoclonal antibodies TÜ9 and 3C4, but constantly lack other granulocytic cell markers (such as peroxidase and chloroacetate esterase). Monoclonal antibodies raised against a Hodgkin's disease‐derived cell line included one, Ki‐1, that was found to be selectively reactive with H and SR cells and a minute, but distinct cell population in normal lymphoid tissue and bone marrow. The latter, as yet unidentified cell population appears to be the normal equivalent of H and SR cells.