CD30-LIGAND AND CD40-LIGAND EXPRESSION IN LYMPH-NODES INVOLVED WITH HODGKINS-DISEASE

Background: Reed-Sternberg cells of Hodgkin's disease express CD30 and CD40 receptors. The ligands for these receptors have been reported to have pleiotropic biologic activities in vitro, including induction of cell death and enhancing cell survival. Go-expression of the ligands for these receptors in lymph nodes involved with Hodgkin's disease is not known. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine CD30 liga nd (L) and CD40L expression in lymph nodes of patients with Hodgkin's disease, and to study CD30L expression on nodal lymphocyte subsets. Ma terials and methods. CD30L expression on subsets of lymphocytes of fiv e lymph nodes involved with Hodgkin's disease was determined by two-co lor FACScan. Messenger RNA. expression of CD30L and CD40L was determin ed by the reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) met hod performed on seven specimens involved with Hodgkin's disease (five lymph nodes and two spleens). Results: Four of seven specimens (57%) contained cells that expressed CD30L mRNA and three specimens (43%) co ntained CD40L-expressing cells. The mean percentage of nodal lymphocyt es expressing CD30L surface protein was less than or equal to 20%. Con clusion: Hodgkin's disease lymph nodes and spleens frequently lack CD3 0L- and CD40L-expressing cells, and when CD30L is expressed, it is usu ally detected on few numbers of lymphocytes. The balance in the level of expression of these ligands in Hodgkin's disease lymph nodes may be related to the disease's clinical behavior.