DEMONSTRATION OF LIGHT-CHAIN MESSENGER-RNA IN HODGKINS-DISEASE

The lineage of Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg cells is still unclear. Dete ction of both immunoglobulin light chains in Hodgkin and Reed-Sternber g cells by immunohistochemistry is a well-known phenomenon. However, u p to now, in situ hybridization techniques have failed to demonstrate light chain messenger(m) RNA in Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg cells. In t his investigation, we have analysed 26 cases of Hodgkin's disease (nod ular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin's disease, mixed cellularity, and nodular sclerosis type) using digoxigenin-labelled oligonucleotide pro bes for kappa and lambda light chains by in situ hybridization. In nea rly half of the cases of nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin's dise ase and in one case of mixed cellularity type, mRNA for only one light chain could be clearly demonstrated in the lymphocytic and histiocyti c cells, Hodgkin, and Reed-Sternberg cells. These results support the idea that at least some cases of Hodgkin's disease are B-cell neoplasm s.