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Published on: November 1, 2010
Elevated serum soluble CD30 precedes the development of AIDS-associated non-Hodgkin's B cell lymphoma
Elizabeth Crabb Breen1, Sepi Fatahi, Marta Epeldegui
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1740, USA. ebreen@mednet.ucla.edu
Insights
Soluble CD30 (sCD30) levels are elevated in individuals who later develop acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-associated lymphoma. sCD30 may serve as a biomarker for immune activation preceding B cell lymphoma development in HIV-infected individuals.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Oncology
- Virology
Background:
- CD30 is expressed on activated B and T cells and can be detected in serum as soluble CD30 (sCD30).
- sCD30 serves as an indicator of immune activation levels.
- Hodgkin's lymphoma and certain non-Hodgkin's lymphomas express CD30.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate soluble CD30 (sCD30) as a potential biomarker for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-associated non-Hodgkin's B cell lymphoma.
- To assess the correlation between sCD30 levels and other immune activation markers in HIV-infected individuals.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study using archived sera from subjects near the time of AIDS-associated non-Hodgkin's B cell lymphoma diagnosis.
- Comparison of sCD30 levels in AIDS lymphoma subjects (n=49) versus control groups: AIDS without malignancy (n=44), HIV-infected healthy (n=47), and HIV-seronegative (n=44).
- Analysis of correlations between sCD30 and serum cytokines (IL-6, IL-10, sCD23) and immune markers (sCD27, sCD44, CXCL13).
Main Results:
- AIDS lymphoma subjects exhibited significantly elevated mean sCD30 levels compared to all control groups (p < 0.01 or p < 0.001).
- sCD30 levels correlated with B cell cytokines (IL-6, IL-10, sCD23) specifically in lymphoma subjects (p ≤ 0.05).
- Correlations between sCD30 and other immune activation markers (sCD27, sCD44, CXCL13) were observed across all HIV-infected subjects (p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
- Elevated sCD30 levels precede the diagnosis of AIDS-associated B cell lymphoma.
- sCD30, particularly with other immune molecules, may indicate an immune environment promoting B cell hyperactivation and lymphoma development.
- sCD30 shows potential as a predictive biomarker for AIDS-associated B cell lymphoma.
Abstract:
CD30, first described as the Ki antigen on malignant B cells in Hodgkin's lymphoma, is also expressed on normal activated B and T cells. It can be cleaved from the cell surface and detected in normal serum as soluble CD30 (sCD30), where it can be an indicator of levels of immune activation. In a cross-sectional study utilizing archived sera at a time point close to but preceding a diagnosis of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-associated non-Hodgkin's B cell lymphoma, AIDS lymphoma subjects (n = 49) showed elevated mean levels of sCD30 compared to controls with AIDS but no malignancy (n = 44, p < 0.01), HIV-infected but relatively healthy (n = 47, p < 0.001), or HIV-seronegative controls (n = 44, p < 0.001). Serum sCD30 was significantly correlated to serum levels of the B cell cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-10, and sCD23, but only among lymphoma subjects (p < or = 0.05). Correlations between sCD30 and other markers of immune system activation were seen among all HIV-infected subjects (sCD27, sCD44, CXCL13, p < 0.05). These observations suggest that sCD30, especially in combination with other immune system molecules, could be an important biomarker for an immune system environment conducive to B cell hyperactivation and the development of AIDS-associated B cell lymphoma.
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