Flow cytometry CD4(+)CD26(-)CD38(+) lymphocyte subset in the microenvironment of Hodgkin lymphoma-affected lymph
Rosa Di Gaetano1, Valentina Gasparetto, Andrea Padoan
1Laboratory Department, Transfusion Service, Haemophilia Centre and Haematology, Castelfranco Veneto Hospital, Via Ospedale 18, 31033, Castelfranco Veneto, TV, Italy.
Insights
Flow cytometry can identify a specific CD4(+)CD26(-)CD38(+) cell subset in Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) microenvironments. This method helps distinguish HL from benign conditions, aiding diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Hematopathology
- Flow Cytometry
Background:
- Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) diagnosis relies on Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg (HRS) cells within an inflammatory microenvironment.
- Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are increasingly recognized for their immunosuppressive role in HL tumor persistence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify Hodgkin lymphoma-specific lymphocyte subsets and potential biomarkers related to Treg cells.
- To evaluate flow cytometric immunophenotyping for characterizing the HL microenvironment.
Main Methods:
- Flow cytometric immunophenotyping of lymph node samples from 108 HL cases and 43 benign reactive lymphoid hyperplasia (BRLH) cases.
- Analysis of CD3, CD19, and CD4(+)CD26(-)CD38(+) cell subsets within the lymphocytic infiltrate.
- Logistic analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves using CD38 and CD26 markers.
Main Results:
- HL samples showed significantly decreased CD19(+) cells (23% vs 39%) and increased CD3(+) (74% vs 58%) and CD4(+)CD26(-)CD38(+) cells (38% vs 11.5%) compared to BRLH.
- The CD4(+)CD26(-)CD38(+) subset was strongly expressed in HL (ROC AUC = 0.8639).
- Flow cytometry effectively distinguished the HL microenvironmental pattern from BRLH.
Conclusions:
- The CD4(+)CD26(-)CD38(+) cell subset is a potential biomarker for Hodgkin lymphoma.
- Flow cytometry can accurately identify the cellular microenvironmental pattern in HL.
- This technique offers a potentially rapid and accessible method for characterizing the inflammatory background in HL, complementing traditional histology.
Abstract:
Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is traditionally diagnosed by the presence of neoplastic Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg (HRS) cells found in minority within a typical inflammatory microenvironment. It is now recognized that the majority of these T CD4 cells are T regulatory (Treg) and play an important immunosuppressive role and contribute to tumour persistence. Flow cytometric immunophenotyping of lymphocytes was performed on lymph node samples over a 12-year period (2000-2012) to identify the Hodgkin-specific subset and potential biomarkers related to Treg cells. CD3, CD19 and T CD4(+)CD26(-)CD38(+) subsets were measured in the lymphocytic infiltrate of 108 consecutive lymph node samples concurrently diagnosed histologically as HL and in 43 cases of benign reactive lymphoid hyperplasia (BRLH). HL, compared to BRLH, shows statistically significant differences within the reactive microenvironmental population: decreased CD19(+) cells (23 % vs 39 %; p < 0.001), increased CD3(+) (74 % vs 58 %; p < 0.001) and CD4(+)CD26(-)CD38(+) cells (38 % vs 11.5 %; p < 0.001). By using the co-expressed markers CD38 and CD26 for logistic analysis, the obtained receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves confirm that the CD4(+)CD26(-)CD38(+) subset is strongly expressed in HL (ROC AUC = 0,8639). Flow cytometric detection of CD4(+)CD26(-)CD38(+) cells seems able to identify the cellular microenvironmental pattern in HL and to distinguish it from BRLH. Although there is extensive experience in flow cytometric analysis of non-HL, it is not routinely applied in cases of HL and our findings suggest that it may be useful in quickly and easily characterizing its cellular para-neoplastic inflammatory background.
