Expression of cytotoxic molecules in intestinal T-cell lymphomas

Abstract

Intestinal T‐cell lymphoma (ITCL) represents a subgroup of peripheral T‐cell lymphomas which is thought to arise from αβ intraepithelial T‐lymphocytes. Since these lymphocytes may contain cytotoxic molecules, the question of whether this also holds true for ITCL arises. Twenty ITCL cases were examined for the presence of granzyme B, perforin, and T‐cell‐restricted intracellular antigen (TIA‐1)/granule membrane protein of 17 kD (GMP‐17). Two molecules with restricted expression in cytotoxic cells, granzyme B and perforin, were detected by immunocytochemistry and by in situ hybridization with an isotopically labelled RNA probe, respectively. Immunocytochemistry was also performed with the antibody 2G9, which recognizes two molecules, one expressed by cytotoxic cells (TIA‐1) and the other found in granulocytes and cytotoxic cells (GMP‐17). Granzyme B, TIA‐1/GMP‐17, and perforin were found in the neoplastic cells of 16/19 cases, 19/20 cases, and 16/17 cases, respectively, of ITCL, but not in the tumour cells of the control group, which consisted of intestinal B‐cell lymphomas (five cases) and CD8‐negative peripheral nodal T‐cell lymphomas (six cases). At least one of these molecules was expressed in the tumour cells of all ITCL cases. 2G9 proved to be the most sensitive immunohistological marker, since reactivity with this antibody was not only observed in the highest number of cases, but also found in high numbers of neoplastic cells in positive cases. In conclusion, ITCL appears to show cytotoxic differentiation in all cases. In conjunction with immunophenotypic and genotypic data, our results support a uniform derivation of this tumour from intraepithelial αβ cytotoxic T‐lymphocytes. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Immunohistochemical Profiling of Canine Intestinal T-Cell Lymphomas

“…2,3,6,7,16,21,25 The WHO classification describes both subtypes of EATL (type I and II) as tumors of intraepithelial T cells, with predominantly cytotoxic T-cell features of the ab phenotype. 11,27 However, a recent study has demonstrated that neoplastic lymphocytes in EATL type II are more commonly of the gd phenotype. 9 Although not commonly available, identification of the ab or gd phenotype would allow further classification of the neoplastic lymphocytes in canine intestinal T-cell lymphoma.…”

“…Specifically, smaller cells in the duodenum had stronger CD56 expression than that of larger cells in the ileum (Figs. 10,11).…”

The Risk of Malignancies in Celiac Disease—A Literature Review

“…In addition, most of these neoplastic cells express CD30. EATL type 1 originates from cytotoxic IELs (CD8+ αβ intraepithelial T lymphocyte), as demonstrated by the cytotoxic phenotype of tumor cells, which are perforin+, granzyme B+, and TIA-1+ [ 117 , 118 ]. The phenotype mostly consists of medium- to large-sized tumor cells with round or angulated vesicular nuclei, prominent nucleoli, a pale-staining cytoplasm, and an increased mitotic index, which is often associated with moderate to abundant infiltration of eosinophils, histiocytes, and small lymphocytes [ 94 ].…”

Origin of primary gastric T‐cell lymphomas from intraepithelial T‐lymphocytes: report of two cases

“…ITCLs consistently express cytotoxic molecules which indicates their derivation from cytotoxic cells. 7,8 Therefore we were interested whether the same holds true for our GTCL cases. The ®ndings of these investigations suggest that GTCL may be heterogeneous in respect to the expression of these molecules.…”