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Published on: January 7, 2019
Follicular dendritic cells in Hodgkin's disease
M J Alavaikko1, M L Hansmann, C Nebendahl
1Department of Pathology, University of Kiel, Germany.
Insights
Follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) show distinct patterns in Hodgkin
Area of Science:
- Immunopathology
- Hematopathology
- Oncology
Background:
- Hodgkin's disease (HD) is a malignancy of the lymphatic system.
- Follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) play a crucial role in lymphoid tissue architecture and immune responses.
- Understanding FDC distribution in HD can provide insights into disease pathogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the distribution and patterns of follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) in lymph nodes affected by Hodgkin's disease (HD).
- To correlate FDC patterns with different subtypes of Hodgkin's disease.
- To assess the utility of the Ki-FDC1P antibody for FDC visualization in paraffin-embedded HD tissues.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 66 lymph node samples from patients with Hodgkin's disease.
- Immunohistochemical staining using the monoclonal antibody Ki-FDC1P specific for FDCs.
- Classification of FDC distribution into two distinct patterns (Pattern A and Pattern B) within neoplastic areas.
Main Results:
- Two distinct FDC patterns were identified: Pattern A (expanded/disrupted networks) and Pattern B (rare/lacking FDCs).
- Pattern A was observed in approximately 90% of nodular lymphocyte predominance HD and about 50% of nodular sclerosis HD cases.
- In mixed cellularity HD, approximately 20% of cases showed Pattern A, with specific cell types identified as follicle-occupying cells.
Conclusions:
- Distinct FDC distribution patterns are associated with different Hodgkin's disease subtypes.
- The Ki-FDC1P antibody is effective for studying FDC networks in HD.
- Abnormal follicular structures, visualized by FDCs, are more prevalent in HD than previously recognized.
Abstract:
The distribution of follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) was studied in 66 lymph nodes affected by Hodgkin's disease (HD) from as many patients with the use of the monoclonal antibody Ki-FDC1P, which stains FDCs in paraffin sections. Two distinct FDC patterns were distinguishable in the neoplastic areas: pattern A, showing FDC networks occupied by nongerminal center cells, often expanded and disrupted; and pattern B, with FDCs rare or lacking. Pattern A, with follicle-occupying cells represented by epithelioid and lymphocytic and histiocytic (L and H) cells, was found in about 90% of the cases of nodular lymphocyte predominance type and in about half of the cases of nodular sclerosis type, with the follicle-occupying cells being lacunar cells. In the group of mixed cellularity type, approximately one-fifth of the cases exhibited pattern A and in these cases the follicle-occupying cells were Sternberg-Reed, Hodgkin's, and epithelioid cells. The presence of follicular structures, although abnormal, is a more common occurrence in HD than is appreciable with the use of conventional histologic methods.
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