D. Molin et al., Mast cells express functional CD30 ligand and are the predominant CD30L-positive cells in Hodgkin's disease, BR J HAEM, 114(3), 2001, pp. 616-623
Hodgkin's disease (HD) tumours are characterized by the presence of few tum
our cells, the Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg (FIRS) cells, surrounded by a lar
ge amount of non-neoplastic cells. The role of this cell infiltrate for the
development of HD is not known. CD30, belonging to the tumour necrosis fac
tor receptor superfamily, is highly expressed on HRS cells and believed to
be involved in tumourigenesis and tumour progression, Tumour samples from 4
2 patients were immunohistochemically double-stained for tryptase, a mast c
ell-specific proteinase and CD30 ligand (CD30L). Tryptase-positive mast cel
ls were present in ali tumours. Of these cells, 50% expressed CD30L and 66%
of the CD30L-positive cells were mast cells. CD30L mRNA in in vitro develo
ped normal mast cells and malignant human and murine mast cell lines was de
tected using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. CD30L protein
expressed on human mast cells was detected using flow cytometry. In a co-c
ulture assay, the human mast cell line HMC-1 stimulated thymidine uptake in
HRS cell lines, and the stimulation could be blocked using CD30L-specific
monoclonal antibodies. In conclusion, mast cells are present in HD tumours
and are the predominant CD30L-expressing cells. CD30L-CD30 interaction is a
pathway by which mast cells may stimulate DNA synthesis in HRS cells.