Loss of CD19 expression in B-cell neoplasms.

Abstract

AIMS:

To investigate whether an antibody against an intracellular epitope can detect CD19 in routine biopsy specimens and thus to document in detail its expression in human lymphomas.

METHOD AND RESULTS:

A polyclonal antibody to the C terminus of CD19 was used to immunostain paraffin-embedded samples of normal and neoplastic lymphoid tissues. CD19 was widely expressed in normal B cells and in extramedullary plasma cells. It was found in most B-cell neoplasms, but expression in follicular lymphoma was weak (33/69) or negative (four cases). Similarly, CD19 expression in diffuse large B-cell lymphomas was weak (28/56) or negative (eight cases). In T-cell-rich B-cell lymphomas, CD19 was also weak (4/10) or negative (three cases). CD19 was often absent in post-transplant B lymphoproliferative disease, classical Hodgkin's disease and plasma cell neoplasms. An unexpected finding was the frequent absence of CD19 in the neoplastic cells in lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin's disease.

CONCLUSIONS:

CD19 can now be detected in routine biopsy specimens. In contrast to the classical pan-B marker CD20, CD19 is not always strongly expressed in B-cell neoplasms. Furthermore, the lymphocytic and histiocytic (L&H) cells of lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin's disease (which express most B-cell-associated markers) commonly lack CD19.

• Authors: N Masir, T Marafioti, M Jones, Y Natkunam, T Rüdiger, M-L Hansmann, D Y Mason
• Journal: Histopathology (Histopathology) Vol. 48 Issue 3 Pg. 239-46 (Feb 2006) ISSN: 0309-0167 [Print] England
• PMID: 16430470 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antigens, CD19

Topics

• Antigens, CD19 (biosynthesis, genetics)
• B-Lymphocytes (metabolism, pathology)
• Fluorescent Antibody Technique
• Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
• Hodgkin Disease (genetics, metabolism, physiopathology)
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell (genetics, metabolism, physiopathology)
• Lymphoma, B-Cell (genetics, metabolism, physiopathology)
• Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse (genetics, metabolism, physiopathology)
• Lymphoma, T-Cell (genetics, metabolism, physiopathology)
• Plasma Cells (metabolism, pathology)