Localization of immunoglobulin light chain mRNA expression in Hodgkin's disease by in situ hybridization.

In situ hybridization techniques were used to detect immunoglobulin light chain messenger RNA (mRNA) in 28 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples of Hodgkin's disease. Cocktails of biotinylated oligonucleotide probes specific for the constant regions of kappa and lambda light chain mRNA were used. None of the Reed-Sternberg cells or their variants in any of the cases studied showed positive staining with either probe, in contrast to normal plasma cells which showed strong staining in the same sections. It was concluded, therefore, that the cytoplasmic immunoglobulin frequently detected within these cells by immunocytochemistry is present not as a result of synthesis, but as a result of some other mechanism.