STATIN - A NOVEL MARKER OF NONPROLIFERATION - EXPRESSION IN NONNEOPLASTIC LYMPHOID-TISSUES AND FOLLICULAR LYMPHOMAS

Statin is a 57 kDa nuclear protein exclusively found in noncycling cel ls. Its expression in hematolymphoid cells had not been examined previ ously. The authors studied statin immunoreactivity in nonneoplastic ly mphoid tissues from 26 lymph nodes, 3 tonsils, and 2 spleens. Statin w as detected primarily in small lymphoid cells and histiocytes, along w ith such accessory elements as fibroblasts and endothelial cells. The distribution of positive cells showed an inverse correlation with the proliferative activity of the various lymphoid compartments. Statin la beling was also quantified in 15 follicular lymphomas and compared wit h that in hyperplastic follicles. Although reactivity in benign germin al centers was less than that in neoplastic follicles, this difference did not prove statistically significant. Statin provides an alternati ve to proliferation-associated parameters, such as Ki-67 and prolifera ting cell nuclear antigen, in the analysis of hematolymphoid processes and may be helpful in the dissection of their kinetic heterogeneity.