Tarc, a CC chemokine, is frequently expressed in classic Hodgkin's lymphoma but not in NLP Hodgkin's lymphoma, T-cell-rich B-cell lymphoma, and most cases of anaplastic large cell lymphoma

• Published in: The American journal of surgical pathology Vol. 25; no. 7; pp. 925 - 929
• Main Authors: PEH, S. C, KIM, L. H, POPPEMA, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hagerstown, MD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 01-07-2001
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Chemokine CCL17; Chemokines, CC - metabolism; Diagnosis, Differential; Hematologic and hematopoietic diseases; Herpesvirus 4, Human - isolation & purification; Hodgkin Disease - metabolism; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Leukemias. Malignant lymphomas. Malignant reticulosis. Myelofibrosis; Lymphoma, B-Cell - metabolism; Lymphoma, B-Cell - pathology; Lymphoma, B-Cell - virology; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse - metabolism; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse - pathology; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse - virology; Medical sciences; Reed-Sternberg Cells - metabolism; T-Lymphocytes - pathology; Human; Immunohistochemistry; Adult T cell leukemia; Hodgkin disease; Malignant hemopathy; B-Lymphocyte; Large cell lymphoma; Non Hodgkin lymphoma; Lymphoma; Differential diagnostic; Infection; Pathology; Lymphoproliferative syndrome; Viral disease
• ISSN: 0147-5185; 1532-0979
• DOI: 10.1097/00000478-200107000-00011

Thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) has been identified as a lymphocyte-directed CC chemokine that attracts activated T-helper type 2 (Th2) cells in humans. Recent studies showed that the T cells surrounding Reed-Sternberg cells in Hodgkin's lymphomas (HL) are Th2 type. Anaplastic large cell lymphomas (ALCL), T-cell-rich B-cell lymphoma (TCRBCL) can mimic HL in some instances. This study aimed to establish the pattern of TARC expression in these diseases. Immunohistochemical stain using a polyclonal goat anti-human antibody to TARC was performed on 119 cases of confirmed HL; 99 were classical type (43 mixed cellularity, 43 nodular sclerosis, 5 lymphocyte depleted, 4 lymphocyte rich, 4 unclassifiable) and 20 lymphocyte predominant HL. Additional 27 ALCL (9 T-, 18 null-cell phenotype), 16 T-cell and 8 B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) were studied. A total of 85.8% of the classical HL, one case of ALCL, and one case of large cell B-cell lymphoma with anaplastic morphology showed positive TARC expression in the tumor cells. The expression was paranuclear and/or diffuse in the cell cytoplasm. The tumor cells in all cases of lymphocyte predominant HL, TCRBCL, null ALCL, and T-NHL did not express TARC. The high frequency of TARC expression in the Reed-Sternberg cells of classical HL may explain the characteristic T-cell infiltrate in this disease. The absence in other types that may be morphologically similar indicates that staining for TARC may aid in differential diagnosis.