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Updated: Aug 9, 2026
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Published on: March 6, 2010
CD14 and CD169 expression in human lymph nodes and spleen: specific expansion of CD14+CD169- monocyte-derived cells
Béatrice Marmey1, Charlotte Boix, Jean-Baptiste Barbaroux
1Department of Pathology, Hôtel-Dieu, AP-HP, 75181 Paris Cedex 04, France.
Insights
Researchers identified a distinct CD14(+)CD169(-) cell population expanded in diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCLs), suggesting potential dendritic cell differentiation and a microenvironment marker for this cancer.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Hematopathology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- The mononuclear phagocyte system in human lymphoid tissue includes macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs).
- The diversity of non-DC mononuclear phagocytes in lymphoid tissue is not well understood.
- Monocyte-derived markers CD14 and CD169 (sialoadhesin) are key for identifying cell populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression of CD14 and CD169 in reactive human lymphoid tissue and B-cell lymphomas.
- To characterize the heterogeneity of mononuclear phagocytes in the context of lymphoid malignancies.
- To explore the potential role of CD14(+) cells in diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCLs).
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemistry on paraffin-embedded reactive lymphoid tissue and 51 B-cell lymphomas.
- Analysis of CD14 and CD169 expression on monocyte-derived cells and lymphoma subtypes.
- In vitro culture of purified DLBCL CD14(+) cells with GM-CSF/IL-4 to assess differentiation potential.
Main Results:
- Lymph node sinusoidal monocyte-derived cells were the only CD169(+) population; most expressed CD14.
- Phagocytic macrophages (erythrophagocytosis, anthracosis, tingible bodies) lacked CD14 and CD169.
- Splenic marginal zone lymphoma showed expanded CD14(+)CD169(+) cells; DLBCLs exhibited a striking expansion of CD14(+)CD169(-) cells, excluding those with high mitotic/apoptotic activity.
Conclusions:
- A distinct CD14(+)CD169(-) cell population is expanded in a subset of DLBCLs, potentially indicating dendritic cell differentiation.
- This CD14(+) population may serve as a microenvironment-related marker for specific DLBCL subgroups.
- Further research is needed to determine the precise role of this expanded CD14(+) population in DLBCL pathogenesis and prognosis.
Abstract:
The mononuclear phagocyte system of human lymphoid tissue comprises macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs). The heterogeneity of the non-DC mononuclear phagocyte population in human lymphoid tissue has been little addressed. Here, we studied the expression of 2 monocyte-derived markers, CD14 and CD169 (sialoadhesin), in reactive human lymphoid tissue as well as in a series of 51 B-cell lymphomas by immunohistochemistry on paraffin-embedded tissue. We confirmed that lymph node sinusoidal monocyte-derived cells were the only population staining for CD169. Although most sinusoidal histiocytes also expressed CD14, monocyte-derived cells with phagocytosis such as erythrophagocytosis, anthracosis, or tingible bodies macrophage lacked CD14 and CD169. Among B-cell lymphomas, splenic marginal zone lymphoma was the only one associated with an expansion of the CD14(+)CD169(+) cells in the cords. With respect to nodal B-cell lymphomas, CD14(+) cells were rare among B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia, follicular lymphoma (FL), mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). However, strikingly, we found a strong expansion of CD14(+)CD169(-) cells in numerous diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCLs), except in cases associated with numerous mitoses, apoptotic bodies, and tingible bodies macrophages. When cultivated in granulocyte/macrophage colony stimulating factor/interleukin 4, DLBCL purified CD14(+) cells differentiate into plasmacytoid cells, expressing DC-specific intercellular adhesion molecule 3-grabbing nonintegrin, suggesting dendritic cell differentiation potential. Our observation fits well with the lymph node and host response cluster signatures described in the gene profiling signatures of DLBCL. However, the role of this CD14(+) population that may constitute a microenvironment-related marker of this subgroup of DLBCL remains to be determined.
