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Immunophenotypic characterization of cutaneous lymphoid neoplasia in the dog and cat
1Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Bristol, Langford, UK.
Insights
This study analyzed canine and feline cutaneous lymphoid neoplasms. Most non-epitheliotrophic lymphomas were T-cell origin, while plasmacytomas expressed immunoglobulin chains, indicating a polyclonal immune response.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Pathology
- Immunohistochemistry
- Oncology
Background:
- Cutaneous lymphoid neoplasms are common in dogs and cats.
- Understanding the immunophenotype of these neoplasms is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.
- Previous studies have varied in their characterization of canine and feline cutaneous lymphomas.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the immunophenotype of canine epitheliotrophic lymphoma, canine non-epitheliotrophic cutaneous lymphoma, canine cutaneous plasmacytoma, and feline non-epitheliotrophic cutaneous lymphoma.
- To investigate the presence of local polyclonal immune responses in these conditions.
- To differentiate between T-cell and B-cell origins of canine and feline cutaneous lymphoid neoplasms.
Main Methods:
- Histopathological examination of tumor biopsies.
- Immunohistochemical staining for T-lymphocyte markers (CD3) and B-cell markers (immunoglobulin heavy and light chains).
- Analysis of immunoglobulin subclasses (IgG2, IgG4, IgA, IgM).
Main Results:
- Canine epitheliotrophic lymphoma cases were predominantly CD3 negative, suggesting a non-T-cell origin in most instances.
- Non-epitheliotrophic lymphomas in dogs and cats were predominantly T-cell (CD3+) in phenotype.
- Canine cutaneous plasmacytomas and some non-epitheliotrophic lymphomas expressed immunoglobulin chains, indicating B-cell origin.
- A local polyclonal immune response, involving plasma cells expressing various immunoglobulin isotypes, was observed in the majority of cases.
Conclusions:
- Cutaneous lymphoid neoplasms in dogs and cats exhibit diverse immunophenotypes.
- Non-epitheliotrophic lymphomas are often of T-cell origin, whereas plasmacytomas and some lymphomas are of B-cell origin.
- The presence of polyclonal infiltrates suggests an immune-mediated component or response to the neoplastic cells.
Abstract:
Clinical, histopathological and immunohistochemical findings are presented from a series of cutaneous lymphoid neoplasms including canine epitheliotrophic lymphoma (n = 7), canine non-epitheliotrophic cutaneous lymphoma (n = 10), canine cutaneous plasmacytoma (n = 10) and feline non-epitheliotrophic cutaneous lymphoma (n = 6). Three cases of canine epitheliotrophic lymphoma expressed the CD3 T-lymphocyte marker, but the remainder were negative for this molecule and for a panel of B-cell markers. Non-epitheliotrophic cutaneous lymphoma was shown to be predominantly of T-cell phenotype (CD3+) in the dog (eight of 10 cases) and cat (five of six cases), the remaining cases in both species being of B-cell origin, expressing the gamma heavy chain of immunoglobulin (with or without lambda light chain). One canine non-epitheliotrophic B-cell lymphoma expressed IgG of the IgG2 subclass. Two of the biopsies from dogs with cutaneous plasmacotyoma were shown to express immunoglobulin alpha chain (one with lambda chain) and two neoplasms were positive for immunoglobulin gamma chain (both with lambda chain). One of the latter immunoglobulins was of the IgG4 subclass. In the majority of all cases of cutaneous lymphoid neoplasia examined, there was a local polyclonal immune response, manifested as infiltration by a mixed population of plasma cells expressing IgG (IgG2, IgG4), IgA or IgM. In the feline tumours CD3+ small T lymphocytes were included in these infiltrates.
