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Updated: May 22, 2025
Flow Cytometric Characterization of Murine B Cell Development
Published on: January 22, 2021
Flow Cytometry for B-Cell Non-Hodgkin and Hodgkin Lymphomas
David C Gajzer1, Jonathan R Fromm1
1Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, 825 Eastlake Ave E, Seattle, WA 98109, USA.
Insights
Flow cytometry rapidly classifies B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL) by assessing cellular antigen expression. This method aids disease classification and is influenced by B-cell-targeting therapies.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Immunology
- Oncology
Background:
- Multi-parametric flow cytometry offers rapid cellular antigen assessment for disease classification.
- B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL) diagnosis benefits from immunophenotypic analysis.
- Therapeutic effects on flow cytometry data require consideration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To detail B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL) classification using flow cytometry.
- To present established flow cytometry assays for specific lymphomas.
- To discuss evaluating reactive infiltrates in lymphomas.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing multi-parametric flow cytometry for immunophenotypic analysis.
- Developing and applying specific flow cytometry assay combinations.
- Analyzing cellular antigen expression patterns in B-NHL and Hodgkin lymphoma subtypes.
Main Results:
- Established flow cytometry assays effectively immunophenotype common B-NHL subtypes.
- Specific assay combinations are presented for classic Hodgkin lymphoma (CHL), nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL), and T-cell/histocyte-rich large B-cell lymphoma (THRLBCL).
- The CHL assay is effective for primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (PMLBCL) immunophenotyping.
Conclusions:
- Flow cytometry is a robust tool for B-NHL classification in clinical and research settings.
- Developed assays provide diagnostic utility for various B-NHL and Hodgkin lymphoma subtypes.
- Methodology for evaluating reactive infiltrates offers additional diagnostic information.
Abstract:
Multi-parametric flow cytometry is a powerful diagnostic tool that permits rapid assessment of cellular antigen expression to quickly provide immunophenotypic information suitable for disease classification. This chapter describes the classification of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL) by flow cytometry suitable for the clinical and research environment. In addition to describing the immunophenotypic patterns of the most common B-NHL (including examples of common B-NHL), the effect of anti-CD19, -CD20, and -CD38 therapies on the evaluation of flow cytometric data is also discussed. Over the last 15 years, our laboratory has developed flow cytometry combinations that can immunophenotype classic Hodgkin lymphoma (CHL), nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL), and T-cell/histocyte-rich large B-cell lymphoma (THRLBCL) and the use of these assays will be presented. The CHL assay combination is also particularly well suited to immunophenotype primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (PMLBCL) and our experience immunophenotyping PMLBCL by flow cytometry will be discussed. Finally, an approach to the evaluation of the reactive infiltrate of CHL, NLPHL, and THRLBCL that can provide diagnostic information will also be provided.
