Nuclear antigens in neoplastic lymphocytes of B cell and T cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas

Gross nuclear morphology is a major diagnostic feature in the identification of subtypes of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). The authors have shown that the size, shape, and chromatin distribution of the lymphocyte nuclei vary extensively both within and between samples of a subtype, and have proposed that the variations may reflect qualitative and quantitative differences in extrachromatinic components. To test this hypothesis, the organization of individual nuclear antigens in NHL and in reactive hyperplasia biopsies was examined by immunofluorescence labeling of frozen sections with previously characterized monoclonal antibodies. The results have been correlated with observations of the staining patterns produced by the antibodies in mitogenically stimulated human peripheral blood lymphocytes. Labeling pattern and intensity with each antibody were consistent between preparations of blood lymphocytes, and all four antibodies labeled all blood lymphocyte samples tested. In contrast, only 15% of the 53 biopsies were labeled by all four antibodies, although all were stained by anti-peripherin, nearly 80% by I1, and almost 60% by PI1. Antibody PI2 labeling was detected in only 20% of the samples. Variation in labeling intensity was equally extensive both within and between biopsy samples. In general, there was little homogeneity between samples of an NHL subtype as to which antigens were detected, their labeling intensity, or their pattern of intranuclear distribution. These observations are consistent with earlier reports of significant diversity in the morphology of nonchromatin components in such samples. The data support the proposition that the heterogeneity of gross nuclear morphology in nuclei of NHL biopsies may be due in part to disordered expression or abnormal organization of nuclear proteins.