Hodgkin/Reed-Sternberg cells induce fibroblasts to secrete eotaxin, a potent chemoattractant for T cells and eosinophils

Hodgkin's disease is histopathologically characterized by the relative scar city of neoplastic Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg cells and for yet unknown rea sons by an abundant reactive background of T lymphocytes and often eosinoph ils. Eotaxin is a CC-chemokine attracting eosinophils and T helper 2 (Th2) cells in allergic inflammation. We now report that eotaxin is strongly expr essed in fibroblasts of Hodgkin's disease tissues, whereas Hodgkin/Reed-Ste rnberg cells do not express this chemokine, In tissue culture, Hodgkin's di sease tumor cells induce eotaxin expression in cocultured dermal fibroblast s in a concentration leading to a specific chemotactic response of a Th2 ce ll clone. Production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) by Hodgkin/ Reed-Sternberg cells appears to be responsible for this induction, because blocking of TNF-alpha by neutralizing antibodies prevented fibroblast eotax in expression. Our data suggest that eotaxin is involved in the pathobiolog y of Hodgkin's disease by contributing to eosinophil and T-lymphocyte recru itment. (C) 1999 by The American Society of Hematology.