The immunohistology of Hodgkin's disease--Reed-Sternberg cells and their variants

Abstract

Thirty-three cases of Hodgkin's disease were analysed by immunoalkaline phosphatase and immunoperoxidase techniques, using a monoclonal antibody panel, including markers of B-cells, T-cells, macrophages, granulocytes, and the antibody Ki-1. Hodgkin's cells were found to express markers generally regarded as T-cell, B-cell, myeloid, or monocyte associated. Furthermore, heterogeneity of marker expression was also seen within the Hodgkin's cell population in any single case. Morphological and immunohistological analogies between cells involved in antigen presentation and Hodgkin's cells are described, suggesting possible relationships between these cell types. Anti-Leu M1 was not found to be a particularly sensitive marker of Hodgkin's disease under the conditions used in this study.