HODGKINS CELLS EXPRESS CD83, A DENDRITIC CELL LINEAGE ASSOCIATED ANTIGEN

Hodgkin's cells (HC) are considered to be the malignant cells of Hodgk in's disease (HD), but despite extensive studies, no conclusive eviden ce has emerged regarding their non-malignant counterpart and the ontog eny of these cells remains controversial. The analysis of a possible d endritic cell (DC) origin of HC has been hampered to date by the lack of a DC lineage specific marker. The expression of the two DC-associat ed antigens CD83 and CMRF-44, the B lymphocyte restricted molecule CD7 9, and the costimulator molecule CD86, was examined in lymph nodes fro m 23 HD patients using immunohistological techniques. The majority of HC expressed the CD83 (22/23) and CD86 antigens (20/23), whereas expre ssion of the CMRF-44 antigen was variable (10/23) and usually only a s ubpopulation of HC stained. In contrast, the CD79 antigen was absent f rom most HC (17/23). The presence of the CD83 antigen on HC in the abs ence of the CD79 antigen supports a possible DC lineage origin for som e HC. Regardless of its role in lineage assignment, CD83 may become a useful immunohistological marker for HD as the CD83 antigen was presen t on most HC.