Immunohistochemical localization of adenosine deaminase in human benign extrathymic lymphoid tissues and B-cell lymphomas.

Immunomorphologic methods were utilized to localize adenosine deaminase (ADA) in extrathymic benign lymphoid tissues and B-cell lymphomas. In reactive lymph nodes, tonsils and appendix, germinal centers displayed strong ADA-positive nuclear staining in small cleaved lymphocytes and weak nuclear and/or cytoplasmic staining in large lymphoid cells. A significant proportion of ADA-positive lymphocytes in the germinal centers were B-cells. The mantle zone of secondary follicles did not stain for ADA. The plasma cells in the medullary cords demonstrated mainly cytoplasmic staining. In the spleen, ADA-positive lymphocytes were located in the periarteriolar sheath and paratrabecular white pulp. In lymphoma B-cells, patterns of ADA staining were similar to those observed in normal B-lymphocytes of similar morphology. This study demonstrated that human normal and lymphoma B-lymphoid cells are heterogeneous with respect to ADA expression. This heterogeneity appears to be associated with differentiation and/or proliferation of B-lymphocytes.