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Immunohistological reactivity pattern of the anti‐cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma antibody BE 2
Author(s) -
RALFKIAER ELISABETH,
GATTER K.C.,
WANTZIN GUNHILD LANGE,
THOMSEN K.,
MASON D.Y.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2133.1986.tb04875.x
Subject(s) - antibody , lymphoma , medicine , reactivity (psychology) , pathology , immunology , alternative medicine
SUMMARY It has been reported that the monoclonal antibody BE 2 , raised against leukaemic T cells, reacts specifically with malignant lymphoid cells and represents a valuable reagent for the early identification of cutaneous T‐cell lymphomas. To test this hypothesis, a comprehensive range of nodal and cutaneous biopsies have been examined immunohistologically using single and double immunoenzymatic and immunofluorescent staining methods. BE 2 showed a broad range of reactivity, consistently labelling normal endothelial cells, B‐lymphocytes in mantle and marginal zones, T‐lymphocytes in the paracortex of lymph nodes and medulla of thymus, as well as a variety of different macrophage types, including Langerhans cells and dermal macrophages. Furthermore, although BE 2 ‐positive T‐lymphocytes were most frequent in malignant lymphomas, they were also found in four of 19 benign dermatoses. We conclude that BH 2 is neither T‐cell nor tumour‐cell specific, and that use of this reagent on tissue sections is unlikely to improve the diagnosis of cutaneous lymphomas.