Expression of intracellular signaling molecules in classical and lymphocyte predominance Hodgkin disease

T Marafioti, M Pozzobon, ML Hansmann, G Delsol… - Blood, 2004 - ashpublications.org
T Marafioti, M Pozzobon, ML Hansmann, G Delsol, SA Pileri, DY Mason
Blood, 2004ashpublications.org
The neoplastic cells in classical Hodgkin disease (Reed-Sternberg cells) are of B-lymphoid
origin, but they lack many markers of this cell lineage, for example, immunoglobulin, CD20,
and B-cell–associated transcription factors. In contrast, the neoplastic cells (“L&H” cells) in
lymphocyte predominance Hodgkin disease retain the molecular profile of germinal center B
cells. In this paper, we investigated the expression in Hodgkin disease (45 cases and 3 cell
lines) of 5 intracellular signaling molecules found in B cells. The Src family kinase Syk, the B …
Abstract
The neoplastic cells in classical Hodgkin disease (Reed-Sternberg cells) are of B-lymphoid origin, but they lack many markers of this cell lineage, for example, immunoglobulin, CD20, and B-cell–associated transcription factors. In contrast, the neoplastic cells (“L&H” cells) in lymphocyte predominance Hodgkin disease retain the molecular profile of germinal center B cells. In this paper, we investigated the expression in Hodgkin disease (45 cases and 3 cell lines) of 5 intracellular signaling molecules found in B cells. The Src family kinase Syk, the B-cell adaptor protein BLNK, and phospholipase C (PLC)–γ2 were consistently absent from Reed-Sternberg cells, whereas 2 other Src kinases (Lyn and Fyn) were heterogeneously expressed in a proportion of cases (12% and 42%, respectively). In contrast, the tumor cells in all cases of lymphocyte predominance Hodgkin disease were positive for Fyn, Syk, BLNK, and PLC-γ2, and Lyn immunostaining was seen in a minority of biopsies. These results indicate that in Reed-Sternberg cells, the defect in B-cell lineage marker expression includes a spectrum of molecules involved in intracellular signaling, a finding in keeping with recent gene expression profiling studies. Furthermore, the clear difference in expression of signaling proteins between the 2 major subtypes of Hodgkin disease may be of diagnostic value.
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