Hyperplastic lymphoid tissues of the Waldeyer's ring in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients may occasionally contain multinucleated giant cells (MGCs). These cells, which are unrelated to any opportunistic infection, previously have been demonstrated to harbor significant amounts of HIV. Studies undertaken to characterize these MGCs have generated conflicting results: some reports suggested a macrophage origin, whereas others supported a dendritic cell lineage. This study was performed to determine the occurrence of MGCs in a series of adenoid/tonsil specimens from HIV-seropositive patients showing no histological evidence of opportunistic infection in order to further characterize the phenotype of these cells and to investigate the role of a viral infection in their pathogenesis. Adenoid/tonsil tissue specimens from 21 HIV-seropositive patients with no documented opportunistic infection were scrutinized for the presence of MGCs and evaluated immunohistochemically on paraffin sections by antibodies directed against various macrophage and DC antigens. These antigens included CD68, the macrophage marker 3A5, major histocompatibility complex Class II, S-100 protein, CD1a, and CD83. Additional immunostainings directed at CD21 and CD35 as well as at the HIV-associated p24 antigen were also performed. Finally, the presence of Epstein-Barr virus and human herpesvirus 8 viral sequences was investigated by in situ hybridization and by polymerase chain reaction analysis, respectively. MGCs were found in 14 patients (66.7%), regardless of gender, age, method of viral transmission, CD4 cell count, viral load, or ethnic group. These cells were mostly localized at the lymphoepithelium layer of the tonsillar crypts and, to a lesser extent, in the interfollicular areas of the underlying lymphoid tissue, which consistently exhibited features of follicular hyperplasia. Phenotypically, MGCs were found to be CD68 ؉ , 3A5 ؉ , major histocompatibility complex Class II ؉ , S-100 protein ؉/؊ , CD1a ؊ , CD21 ؊ , CD35 ؊ , and CD83 ؊ . Although the HIV-associated p24 protein was consistently present in the cytoplasm of these cells, no sign of Epstein-Barr virus or human herpesvirus 8 infection could be demonstrated. Consequently, our study didn't show any conclusive evidence to support that MGCs in hyperplastic lymphoid tissues of the Waldeyer's ring from HIV-seropositive patients originated from dendritic cells. The definite nature of these cells has yet to be elucidated, but it is plausible that they simply represent activated macrophages that are infected with HIV present in the oropharyngeal secretions during the circulation of their precursor through the lymphoepithelium area of adenoids and tonsils.

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We report the case of a 20 year-old caucasian woman who presented a primary subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma (SPTCL) as an invasive tumor of the chest wall. Herein, the neoplastic cells were found to express a CD3+CD8+ phenotype but also displayed variably the natural killer (NK)-associated antigens CD56 and CD57 as well as granzyme B. On cytological examination, these cells showed a large granular lymphocyte (LGL)-like morphology with presence of azurophilic granules in their cytoplasm. Electron dense and membrane bound granules like those found in cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) were also demonstrated by electron microscopy. Neither rearrangement of the T-cell receptor subunits nor Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genome was observed at the molecular level. The LGL-like features of the neoplastic cells found in this case and the presence of NK-associated antigens provide additional support to the cytotoxic derivation of most SPTCL.

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