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Reed-Sternberg cell

Etiology: - Hodgkin's disease, - small numbers in several types of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. * currently thought that Hodgkin's disease may be a heterogenous disease derived from subpopulations of activated B-cells. activated T-cells & dendritic cells [2] Pathology: - usually derived from B-cells [2] - multinucleated or bilobed nuclei 'Owl eyes' - eosinophilic inclusion-like nucleoli - give tissue a 'starry sky' or 'moth-eaten' appearance Immunopathology: - distinguished by their lack of leukocyte antigen expression characteristic of T-cells & B-cells. - expression of CD25 (low-affinity IL-2 receptor) & CD71 (transferrin receptor) which are also expressed on activated B-cells, T-cells & NK-cells, & CD13 expressed on myeloid cells - they also express MHC class II antigens & epithelial membrane antigen. - Reed-Sternberg cells of the lymphocyte-predominant form of Hodgkin's disease express CD45R, whereas all other Reed-Sternberg cells are negative, a feature of dendritic cells. - two unique antigens are expressed on the Reed-Sternberg cell: - CD15 the Lewis X blood group antigen, which functions as an adhesion receptor - not expressed on Reed-Sternberg cells of the lymphocyte-predominant form of Hodgkin's disease - CD30 or Ki-1 - CD30 is also expressed on some activated B-cells, activated T-cells, dendritic cells, Epstein-Barr virus-transformed cell lines, Ki-1 large cell anaplastic lymphoma. Genetics: - immunoglobulin gene rearrangement have been demonstrated in some specimens of Reed-Sternberg cells (usually lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin's) & T-cell receptor beta chain rearrangements have been demonstrated in others - gene rearrangements in T-cell receptor gamma chains have been observed - in-situ hybridization studies have identified the Epstein-Barr virus genome in Reed-Sternberg cells in 30% of Hodgkin's cases

General

abnormal morphologic structure (malformation) cell

References

  1. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 13th ed. Isselbacher et al (eds), McGraw-Hill Inc. NY, 1994
  2. Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 18, American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 2018