Immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor gene rearrangements in Hodgkin's disease.

We have examined tumor tissue DNA obtained from 32 cases of Hodgkin's disease of the following subtypes: lymphocyte predominance, six; nodular sclerosing, eight; mixed cellularity, 14; lymphocyte depleted, 4; using immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor beta and gamma gene probes. Immunoglobulin heavy chain rearrangements were detected in five patients; in three of them only a minor clonal cell population was visible. T-cell receptor gene rearrangement was not observed in any patient examined. Three patients exhibiting minor clonal immunoglobulin rearrangements showed polyclonal T-cells in the same sample. There was no correlation between the presence and intensity of the rearranged bands and the number of Reed-Sternberg cells. Our data do not confirm recent reports of a frequent occurrence of immunoglobulin or T-cell receptor gene rearrangements in Hodgkin's disease and suggest no possible relation between Reed-Sternberg cells and B- or T-lymphocytes, respectively.