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Light and immunoelectronmicroscopic study of Hodgkin’s disease: Evidence of immunoglobulin synthesis by tumor cells

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Virchows Archiv B

Summary

The direct immunoperoxidase technique with peroxidase-conjugated F(ab′)2 fragments was used at the light and electron microscopic levels to identify intracytoplasmic immunoglobulin (CIg) components in malignant cells of Hodgkin’s disease. In each of the 27 cases studied, Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg cells contained either IgG or IgM, with both light chains often present simultaneously. The number of IgG-positive malignant cells was inversely related to changes in the lymphoid compartment, as defined by the Rye grading system. The evolution from lymphocytic predominance to lymphocytic depletion was paralleled by a decrease of IgM-positive cells and by a substantial increase (to exclusiveness) of IgG-containing cells. These immunoelectronmicroscopic studies disclosed definite morphologic evidence of CIg synthesis by Hodgkin, Reed-Sternberg and lacunar cells. The immunoglobulin components were also synthesized by lymphoid B cells at different levels of modulation. Immunoglobulin synthesis by malignant cells was localized in perinuclear zone, on free cytoplasmic ribosomes and profiles of rough endoplasmic reticulum. The results of this joint light and electron microscopic study support the view that Hodgkin, Reed-Sternberg and lacunar cells belong to the B-cell compartment within Hodgkin’s disease.

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Author notes

  1. Warren W. Johnson

    Present address: Department of Pathology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 39216, Jackson, MS, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 332 N. Lauderdale, 38101, Memphis, TN, USA

    Malgorzata J. Gladkowska-Dura, Wieslaw T. Dura & Warren W. Johnson

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  1. Malgorzata J. Gladkowska-Dura
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  2. Wieslaw T. Dura
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Former Head, Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN.

Supported by Cancer Center Support (CORE) Grant CA 21765 from the National Cancer Institute, Grant IN 99-E from the American Cancer Society and by ALSAC

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Gladkowska-Dura, M.J., Dura, W.T. & Johnson, W.W. Light and immunoelectronmicroscopic study of Hodgkin’s disease: Evidence of immunoglobulin synthesis by tumor cells. Virchows Archiv B Cell Pathol 37, 109–124 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02892561

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02892561

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