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Reduced apoptotic cell death in follicular lymphoma
Author(s) -
Hollowood Kevin,
Macartney James C.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
the journal of pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.964
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1096-9896
pISSN - 0022-3417
DOI - 10.1002/path.1711630411
Subject(s) - follicular lymphoma , apoptosis , follicular phase , lymphoma , programmed cell death , cancer research , medicine , follicular cell , pathology , oncology , biology , genetics
It has been hypothesized that inhibition of germinal centre cell apoptosis may underlie the development of follicle centre cell lymphomas. We have performed a comparative, quantitative study of apoptotic cell death in germinal centres and in the neoplastic follicles of centroblastic–centrocytic, follicular, non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma (Cb/Cc NHL). Ten cases each of reactive follicular hyperplasia and Cb/Cc NHL were analysed. One‐micrometre‐thick resinembedded sections were examined at × 1000 magnification. The total numbers of cells, nuclear containing apoptotic bodies, and mitoses were counted in each follicle and the apoptotic and mitotic indices were derived. Transmission electron microscopy was performed on selected cases to confirm the typical features of apoptosis. The mean apoptotic (4·9 per cent) and mitotic indices (0·9 per cent) for the germinal centres were significantly higher ( P < < 0·001) than those for the neoplastic follicles (0·9 and 0·14 per cent). These results lend support to the recent proposal that reduced apoptotic cell death may be important in the pathogenesis of follicular lymphomas.