Reciprocal/dichotomic expression of vimentin and B cell differentiation antigens in Reed-Sternberg's cells.

An immunohistochemical study of 63 cases of Hodgkin's disease was undertaken using formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tissue sections. The antibodies used were against L26, LN-1, LN-2, EMA (epithelial membrane antigen), Leu-M1, Vimentin, UCHL-1, S-100, and lysozyme. Hodgkin's disease could be divided into three groups: the first group was LN-1+/L26+/vimentin-, the second LN-1-/L26+/vimentin+, and the third LN-1-/L26-/vimentin+). Sixteen cases of follicular lymphomas were also examined and were all positive for LN-1 and L26 and negative for vimentin. Thus the vimentin negativity of the first group, including 7 nodular lymphocyte-predominant cases, gives further evidence of their germinal center B-cell origin. Since vimentin is expressed mainly in the immature stage of B-lymphocytes, the second group of Hodgkin's disease may represent immature B-cell Hodgkin's disease. In the third group, vimentin was present in Reed-Sternberg's (RS) and Hodgkin's (H) cells in 45 of the 48 cases (92.5%). In none of 48 cases were these cells positive for S-100 or lysozyme, but strong vimentin-positivity still suggested monocytic or histiocytic origin. The results of our study suggest, at least, divergent origin of RS's and H's cells.

Increased density of histiocytes in uterine leiomyomas.

The histiocyte content of leiomyomata and adjacent, histologically normal myometrium has been quantified morphometrically with the help of recently developed immunostaining for tissue macrophages. Histiocytes identified by immunoreaction for Factor XII subunit A and by double immunofluorescent labelings were found to be identical with tissue macrophages present in normal uteri. Histiocyte counts were significantly higher in leiomyomatous areas than in adjacent normal myometrium, and the distribution of these cells was also changed. In the normal uterine wall, histiocytes could be detected only in the connective tissue septa separating smooth muscle bundles, while in the myomatous nodules they were diffusely scattered throughout the whole area. In addition to providing new information on the cellular composition of leiomyomas, the present observations also raise several questions concerning the possible pathogenetic role of FXIII-positive histiocytes in neoplastic proliferation of uterine smooth muscle.

Histocitosis benigna cefálica: reporte de 4 casos / Benig cephalic hystiocytosis: report of 4 cases

Se presentan cuatro casos de Histiocitosis Benigna Cefálica, una histiocitosis cutánea de los niños autoinvolutiva, no X, no lipídica. La edad de comienzo fue entre los 5 y los 9 meses de vida, con pápulas y máculas eritematosas localizadas en la cabeza (principalmente en mejillas) con posterior diseminación a tronco y miembros en tres de los casos. Con microscopio óptico observamos infiltrados histiositario en la dermis superficial, S-100 negativo por método de las peroxidasas (método PRP). Uno de los casos mostró partículas vermiformes y uniones de tipo desmosomas en el estudio ultramicroscópico. No se encontraron gránulos de Bierbeck. La Histiositosis Benigna Céfalica es una patología autoinvolutiva que no requiere tratamiento.

Histocitosis benigna cefálica: reporte de 4 casos / Benig cephalic hystiocytosis: report of 4 cases

Se presentan cuatro casos de Histiocitosis Benigna Cefálica, una histiocitosis cutánea de los niños autoinvolutiva, no X, no lipídica. La edad de comienzo fue entre los 5 y los 9 meses de vida, con pápulas y máculas eritematosas localizadas en la cabeza (principalmente en mejillas) con posterior diseminación a tronco y miembros en tres de los casos. Con microscopio óptico observamos infiltrados histiositario en la dermis superficial, S-100 negativo por método de las peroxidasas (método PRP). Uno de los casos mostró partículas vermiformes y uniones de tipo desmosomas en el estudio ultramicroscópico. No se encontraron gránulos de Bierbeck. La Histiositosis Benigna Céfalica es una patología autoinvolutiva que no requiere tratamiento. (AU)

Ontogeny of S-100 protein-positive histiocytes and lymphocytes in the human fetal lymphoreticular system.

In the human lymphoreticular system, the alpha and beta subunits of S-100 protein are found in ordinary monocyte-macrophages and non-phagocytic histiocytes such as Langerhans cells and interdigitating reticulum cells, respectively. The beta subunit is also present in some CD8+ T cells. In the present study, we investigated the ontogeny of these histiocytes and lymphocytes in humans. Yolk sacs and 4 to 21-week fetuses were examined immunohistochemically for the presence of S-100 protein subunits using antisera monospecific to each subunit. S-100 alpha + macrophages were present in the yolk sacs and the hepatic sinusoids of the 4th week embryos prior to bone marrow hematopoiesis. These macrophages later appeared in other lymphoid organs when anlagen of these organs were formed. No S-100 beta + cells were found in the yolk sacs. S-100 beta+ histiocytes were first detected in the hepatic sinusoids of the 5th week embryo, and after the 8th week of gestation, they were distributed in other lymphoid organs. S-100 beta+ lymphocytes were not found in the liver. They were first detected in the thymus at the 12th week of gestation, and were subsequently distributed in other lymphoid organs. These results suggest that S-100 beta+ lymphocytes and histiocytes may belong to different cell lineages, and the former may not be the precursor of the latter.

Immunohistochemical reactivity of phagocytic and non-phagocytic histiocytes in lymph nodes with lysozyme, alpha-1-antichymotrypsin, S-100 protein, alkaline phosphatase, and acid phosphatase.

Yellow-brown bodies were observed in the sinusoids of lymph node and histiocytes. The authors confirmed immunohistochemical reactivity of lysozyme, alpha-1-antichymotrypsin, S-100 protein, alkaline phosphatase, and acid phosphatase in non-phagocytic and phagocytic histiocytes which contained yellow-brown bodies. Phagocytic histiocytes (histiocytes with yellow-brown bodies) were not reacted with lysozyme, alpha-1-antichymotrypsin, S-100 protein, alkaline phosphatase, and acid phosphatase. On the other hand, non-phagocytic histiocytes were reacted with lysozyme, alpha-1-antichymotrypsin, S-100 protein, alkaline phosphatase, and acid phosphatase.

Distribution of ricin within the mammalian para-aortic lymph node. II. Comparison of the localization, after intramuscular dosage of colloidal gold-labelled ricin in vivo, with in vitro binding characteristics of the native toxin.

Previous work has shown that, following an intramuscular injection of ricin, the toxin becomes localized within histiocytes in the sinuses of lymph nodes draining the 'wound' site. When ricin labelled with colloidal gold was similarly injected, it was found within the same lymphoid cells as seen with native ricin. Biologically inert Indian ink apparently follows a similar fate, as demonstrated by the appearance of carbon particles within sinus histiocytes, as soon as 1 h after intramuscular injection. When the binding in vitro of Indian ink or ricin toxin to sections of lymph node was examined, ricin was seen to bind to the surfaces of the same sinusoidal cells and also, with a much lower frequency, to follicular lymphocytes, whereas Indian ink failed to bind. This indicated an interaction between ricin and cell membrane components. Moreover, this binding was inhibited markedly by the galactose-containing disaccharide, lactose, a target sugar specified by the lectin binding site of ricin and to a much lesser extent by the monosaccharide mannose.

[Experimental and clinical study of conjunctivo-scleral tolerance of PTFE (Goretex) sutures compared to polyglactine (Vicryl)]. / Etude expérimentale et clinique de la tolérance conjonctivo-sclérale des sutures en PTFE (Goretex) comparée au polyglactine (Vicryl).

The authors report a study of the modifications observed with sutures of PTFE (Goretex) and polyglactin (Vicryl) at the level of the sclera and the conjunctival. Inflammatory cells are fewer with PTFE both in the rabbit eyes (14 cases) from 3 to 110 days and in the human eye in a clinical study of 28 cases.

Immunohistochemical demonstration of histiocytes in normal ectocervical epithelium and epithelial lesions of the uterine cervix.

The numbers of Langerhans cells and lysozyme-positive macrophages were assessed quantitatively in normal ectocervical epithelium, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), microinvasive squamous cell carcinoma (MICA), clinical invasive squamous cell carcinoma (CICA), and koilocytotic atypia using the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex (ABC) method. The distribution of Langerhans cells was different from that of lysozyme-positive macrophages in that the former were intermingled with the cervical lesion, while the latter were present mainly surrounding the cervical lesion and/or on the edge of the cervical lesion. The numbers of Langerhans cells and lysozyme-positive macrophages in CIN were significantly larger than those in normal ectocervical epithelium and significantly smaller than those in invasive squamous cell carcinoma (MICA + CICA). Langerhans cell number significantly increased as the grade of CIN advanced. In contrast, the number of lysozyme-positive macrophages did not differ significantly between progressive grades of CIN. As for koilocytotic atypia, the numbers of Langerhans cells and lysozyme-positive macrophages in koilocytotic atypia were significantly greater than those in normal ectocervical epithelium but did not differ significantly from those in CIN 1 and CIN 2. With respect to stromal lymphoid infiltration, invasive squamous cell carcinoma with moderate or dense stromal lymphoid infiltration showed significantly greater numbers of Langerhans cells and lysozyme-positive macrophages than that with no or scattered stromal lymphoid infiltration, but such a correlation was not found in CIN.

Nature of yellow-brown bodies. Histochemical and ultrastructural studies on the brown pigment.

Yellow-brown bodies were observed in the sinusoids of lymph nodes and in histiocytes. The authors examined their histochemical characteristics. They were similar to lipofuscin pigments in the liver. However, ultrastructurally, yellow-brown bodies were different from lipofuscin and melanin pigments. The electron microscopic investigation suggested that degradation products of yellow-brown bodies in histiocytes resemble brown pigments in the black thyroid.

Diagnostic significance of histiocyte-related markers in malignant histiocytosis and true histiocytic lymphoma.

Interrelationships of immunologic and enzymatic markers of histiocytes have been studied in malignant neoplasms of histiocytic/monocytic origin and in differential diagnostically relevant, large cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Cryostat sections required for demonstrating cell surface antigens by monoclonal antibodies are inadequate for studying cellular detail, enzymatic maturation by alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE), and demonstrating the classical cytoplasmic markers of histiocytes like lysozyme, alpha-1-antitrypsin (AT), and alpha-1-antichymotrypsin (ACT). These markers have been compared in gently fixed and vacuum paraffin-embedded material. The reactivity for monoclonal anti-human monocyte 1 (Mo 1) has also been preserved by this method. Malignant histiocytosis (MH) is characterized by a heterogeneous cell population. The mature, ANAE-positive cells with macrophage morphology usually show a diffuse cytoplasmic positivity for AT and ACT. Lysozyme is moderately positive to negative in these cells, but it is more efficient than these markers in revealing smaller cells resembling monocytes by focal positivity in the cytoplasm. The expression of Factor XIIIa (F-XIIIa) is connected with the phagocytic activation of histiocytic cells. F-XIIIa positive cells usually form a minority of the neoplastic population in MH, but the large cytophagocytic marcophages are invariably positive. Reactive macrophages in large cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas are characterized by a coexpression of ANAE, AT, ACT, lysozyme, F-XIIIa and Mo 1. Typical cases of true histiocytic lymphoma (THL) are made up of a homogeneous population showing the above mature, phagocytizing phenotype. In MH, Mo 1 and ANAE recognize different subpopulations. The reciprocal relation of these markers is an abnormal phenotypic feature. The results presented in this article prove the diagnostic value of ANAE and lysozyme in confirming the histiocytic differentiation of malignant cells. Monoclonal anti-human monocyte 1 is useful for identifying the immature component in MH. Factor XIIIa can be considered a functional marker of mature phagocytic histiocytes and an aid in the diagnosis of THL.

Dendritic/Langerhans cells and prognosis in patients with papillary thyroid carcinomas. Immunocytochemical study of 106 thyroid neoplasms correlated to follow-up data.

Paraffin sections of 106 primary thyroid carcinomas were the subject of an immunocytochemical study to determine the density of infiltrates of S-100 protein-positive dendritic/Langerhans cells (LC), lysozyme-positive histiocytes, and LCA-positive lymphocytes. Evidence of dense infiltrates of LCs was found only in the majority of papillary thyroid carcinomas (PCs). The determination of the quantity of LCs proved to be a highly effective means of assessing the prognosis of these tumors. Irrespective of other morphologic and clinical features, no single instance of death resulting from cancer occurred among 23 PCs with dense LC infiltrates (including 6 tumors of stage pT4), while 9 of 53 (17%) of the remaining patients ultimately died from thyroid cancer. On the other hand, the degree of histiocytic and lymphocytic infiltrations was not associated with a distinct biologic behavior neither among PC nor among the remaining thyroid carcinomas. These findings suggest that LCs may play an important role in the immunologic defense mechanisms of the host against the tumor only in the papillary type of thyroid cancer.

Histiocytes X and X body reactivity with concanavalin A, peanut agglutinin and BSPT.

The ultrastructural and histochemical exploration of histiocytes X done by the means of Concanavalin A (Con A), peanut agglutinin (PNA) and BSPT demonstrate that the plasma membrane of histiocytes X shared some properties with all the other cells and is also specialized. The rod part of the X body has the same properties as the plasma membrane while its vesicular part differs and is closer to the inner membrane system of the cell. In consequence it is suggested that the rod part of the X body is a specialized pathway or shuttle for receptor linked glycoprotein exchanges in highly specialized cells.

Iatrogenic granulomas of the prostate and the urinary bladder.

In 1059 patients who had transurethral resections (TUR) of the prostate 8 cases (0.8%) with nonspecific granulomas were found. In another group of 280 patients treated by TUR for tumours of the urinary bladder 5 cases (1.8%) had granulomatous lesions in the resectates. The granulomas were observed only in patients with prior surgical trauma of the prostate and the bladder with an incidence of 14% and 6.5%, respectively. None of the patients had systemic diseases. Morphologically, two types of granulomas were observed, foreign-body-type and necrotizing. Carbonization rests were frequently noticed in the granulomatous lesions and the configurations and anatomical distribution of the granulomas suggest a common pathogenesis by electrocauterization. Immunohistochemically, histiocytic cells were stained by antibodies against lysozyme. In the prostate, no reaction by antibodies against prostate specific antigen was observed in the granulomas. The findings are compared to previously reported cases of iatrogenic granulomas in the prostate, the urinary bladder and other organs. It is concluded that the granulomas arise as a local reaction to previous surgery, maybe involving hypersensitivity to locally altered collagen.

Ferritin immunohistochemical localization in normal and neoplastic colonic mucosa.

High levels of ferritin have been detected in serum and tumoral extracts of gastrointestinal neoplasms. However, its histological localization is not well known. An immunoperoxidase technique (PAP) was used for detecting ferritin in 30 colorectal carcinomas, 20 polyps and 8 cases of non-neoplastic mucosae. Ferritin staining was detected in stromal cells (98%) much more than in epithelial cells (21%). Connective cells were positive in 5 cases of normal mucosae (62%), 19 polyps (95%) and all carcinomas (100%). The number of positive cells gradually rose from normal mucosa to carcinoma with an intermediate score in adenomas. However, no relation could be found between the stromal ferritin score and dysplasia in polyps. Likewise, no relation was found between the stromal ferritin score and the differentiation grade, invasion or metastases in carcinomas. The positive epithelial pattern seen in 12 cases (21%) suggests non-specific staining due to passive diffusion from the stroma. Thus, these immunohistochemical findings suggest that in colonic neoplasms, ferritin could be a tumor marker produced mainly by stromal cell reaction more than by the epithelial cells.

Sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy. A nodal and extranodal proliferation of S-100 protein positive histiocytes?

Four cases of sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy (SHML) from Finland were studied clinically and immunohistologically. Three patients had histologically verified extranodal manifestations that often caused the most prominent clinical symptoms. Upper respiratory tract obstruction resulting from SHML lesions was present in two cases, multiple bone lesions in one case, and skin lesions in one case. Clinical remission was observed in all cases, but the course was often protracted. Immunohistochemical studies revealed S-100 protein and alpha-1-antichymotrypsin (ACT) positivity in most large pale cytoplasmic histiocyte-like cells in all cases, whereas lysozyme was not present in these cells. Sinus cells in ordinary sinus histiocytosis were constantly positive for ACT and variably positive for lysozyme and were generally negative for S-100 protein. The large histiocyte-like cells in SHML resemble interdigitating reticulum cells and Langerhans' cells in their S-100 protein positivity but differ from these cells by morphologic characteristics and the presence of alpha-1-antichymotrypsin, a marker constantly seen in ordinary histiocytes. These results suggest that SHML is a proliferative condition of histiocyte-related cells, which share some properties of histiocytes and some of interdigitating reticulum cells. Further studies are necessary to clarify the nature of the peculiar histiocyte-like cells in SHML.

Contribution of histiocytic cells to sarcomatous development of the gliosarcoma. An immunohistochemical study.

The expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein, fibronectin (FN), factor VIII-related antigen (FVIII/RAG), and of three monohistiocytic markers, lysozyme, alpha-1-antitrypsin and alpha-1-antichymotrypsin was examined in five gliosarcomas (GS) by peroxidase-antiperoxidase immunostaining of formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded specimens, and compared with vascular changes in 16 glioblastomas (GB). In contrast to GB, endothelial proliferations of GS were sheathed by sarcomatous tissue (perivascular sarcoma), which was contiguous with fibrosarcomatous areas. Cells with conspicuous intracytoplasmic FN content (FN+ cells) were seen in the vascular stroma of GB and dominated in the sarcomatous parts of GS. Most FN+ cells of GS were of varying size and shape and clearly neoplastic. Monohistiocytic markers were demonstrable in small infiltrating mononuclear cells as well as in many sarcomatous cells including FN+ cells. FVIII/RAG was restricted to lumen-lining endothelium and was not found in sarcomatous cells. These results suggest that a major part of sarcoma in GS is less likely to develop from proliferated endothelial cells than from histiocytic cells in the perivascular spaces of GB. By FN mediation, histiocytic cells might also guide and promote sarcomatous proliferations of other mesenchymal cells, leading to fibrosarcomatous development. Prominent monstrous giant cells of one GS seemed to be degenerating glioma cells.

Localization of interleukin-1 in normal or reactive lymphoid tissues and skin: abundance of IL-1 in interdigitating reticulum cells.

The distribution of interleukin 1 producing cells was determined in the human lymphoid tissues and skin using immunohistochemical staining and a rabbit anti-interleukin-1 antibody. Interleukin-1 was detected mainly in the interdigitating reticulum cells localized in the T cell zone. Approximately, 10-30% of the histiocytes were also positively stained by anti-interleukin-1. The results suggests that interdigitating reticulum cells may play an important role in the initiation and amplification of T-cell immunity.