Immunologic characterization of Reed-Sternberg cells and other cell components in lymph nodes with Hodgkin's disease

Seven lymph nodes from patients with Hodgkin's disease were immunologically studied. Histologically these cases consisted of 3 lymphocyte predominance, 2 mixed cellularity, and 2 nodular sclerosis. Positive staining of mononuclear Hodgkin- and multinuclear Reed-Sternberg (RS) cells were obtained with anti-Ia like antigens and OKT9 (anti-transferrin receptor) monoclonal antibodies. No supportive data for discussing similarity of RS cells with ordinary histiocytes, B-lymphocytes or T-lymphocytes were obtained from the study of surface phenotype, although some analogy was present with histiocytes. Small lymphocytes around RS cells were helper/inducer T-lymphocytes, and the relationship between these T lymphocytes and RS cells was discussed.