Faculty Collaboration Database

Overexpression of CD7 in classical Hodgkin lymphoma-infiltrating T lymphocytes. Cytometry B Clin Cytom 2009 May;76(3):169-74

Date

10/29/2008

Pubmed ID

18956470

DOI

10.1002/cyto.b.20459

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-66949150486 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   27 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is sometimes complicated by the scarcity of neoplastic cells in a reactive inflammatory background. Immunophenotyping by flow cytometry (FC) has not played a significant role in HL diagnosis because of its consistent failure to identify these neoplastic cells. However, HL-infiltrating T cells have been shown to play a role in HL pathogenesis. This study characterizes the FC immunophenotype of these T lymphocytes to determine whether they can be used to assist in the diagnosis of HL.

METHODS: Cell suspensions from 76 lymph nodes involved by HL and 156 lymph nodes with reactive lymphadenopathy (LAD) were analyzed by flow cytometry to assess the expression of T-cell antigens.

RESULTS: The CD4:CD8 ratio and CD7 expression in both CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells are increased in HL compared with reactive lymph nodes and there are significant differences between these features in different subtypes of HL. However, only the expression of CD7 in CD4(+) T cells distinguishes between HL and reactive LAD. This is especially true for classical HL in younger patients. Using a CD7 mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) cutoff value generated by this data, 37/47 FNA specimens were correctly diagnosed.

CONCLUSIONS: There are significant differences in the immunophenotypes of HL-infiltrating T cells. Of these, the CD7 expression in CD4(+) T cells discriminates between HL and reactive LAD, suggesting that this could be a useful and practical adjunctive tool in the diagnosis of HL. It may also further our understanding of the pathophysiology of this disease.

Author List

Seegmiller AC, Karandikar NJ, Kroft SH, McKenna RW, Xu Y

Author

Steven Howard Kroft MD Chair, Professor in the Pathology department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Antigens, CD7
CD3 Complex
CD4 Antigens
CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes
CD8 Antigens
CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes
Female
Flow Cytometry
Hodgkin Disease
Humans
Immunophenotyping
Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating
Male
Sensitivity and Specificity
T-Lymphocyte Subsets