B- and T-lymphocytes in Hodgkin's disease. An immunohistochemical study utilizing heterologous and monoclonal antibodies

Abstract

Immunohistologic techniques utilizing monoclonal antibodies have made possible the identification of leukocytes by their phenotypic characteristics rather than by morphologic features alone. A panel of antibodies for T-lymphocyte, B-lymphocyte, and monocyte/histocyte markers has been applied to frozen sections of nodular sclerosing and mixed cellularity Hodgkin's disease to identify more precisely the various cell types present in tissues involved in Hodgkin's disease. The majority of lymphocytes expressed detectable T-cell phenotypic markers, with a predominance of the “helper” phenotype (Leu 3/OKT4) in most cases. Lymphocytes reacting with anti-B-cell antibodies were also demonstrated; their distribution is described here and has not previously been reported. The anti-B- and anti-T-cell antibodies used in this study failed to give positive reactivity with Reed-Sternberg cells. However, one of the anti-monocyte antibodies (Leu-M1) reacted with diagnostic Reed-Sternberg cells in some cases. The patterns of staining observed varied widely within the two histologic types of Hodgkin's disease, leading to a conclusion that this disease may be more heterogeneous than is currently suspected.