[Expression of class II major histocompatibility antigen and factor VIII related antigen in endothelial cells of blood vessels in malignant lymphomas].

OBJECTIVE

To determine the heterogenicity in the expression of class II major histocompatible antigen (HLA-DR), factor VIII related antigen (FVIIIRAg) and the biological behavior of vessel endothelial cells in malignant lymphoma.

METHODS

Standard immunohistochemical method using antiserum of HLA-DR and FVIIIRAg were applied to detect heterogeneous expression of endothelial cells in 39 cases of malignant lymphomas using neonatal lymph nodes, normal adult lymph nodes and lymph node hyperplasia as the controls.

RESULTS

Both HLA-DR and FVIIIRAg reactivity was found in blood vessels in neonate lymph nodes, normal adult lymph nodes and lymph node hyperplasia. Most vessels in Hodgkin's disease and T cell lymphoma had high endothelial post capillary venules (HEV), which expressed both FVIIIRAg and HLA-DR. In B cell lymphoma, most blood vessels are capillary-like microvessels, which expressed little or no HLA-DR, only expressing FVIIIRAg.

CONCLUSIONS

The above results indicate that the endothelial cell of blood vessels in Hodgkin's disease and T cell lymphoma not only participate in immunoregulation but also in blood coagulation, whereas, those in B cell lymphoma only participate in blood coagulation.