Immunohistochemical study of the lymphoproliferative lesions

Abstract

The lymphoproliferative lesions include either nodal-based or extranodal lesions. These lesions include both reactive lymphoid hyperplasic and primary neoplasms of the lymphoreticular system i.e. lymphomas. Several studies suggested the involvement of the Bcl-2 family of protein and p53 protein in the pathogenesis of the 1ymphoproliferative lesions. In this study we hypothesized that lymphomagenesis is associated with alteration in the apoptotic pathways inside the transformed cells. To test our hypothesis, we examined a total of 68 cases representing different lymphoproliferative lesions. These lesions include 47, ten, and 11 cases ofNHL, HL, and reactive lymphoid hyperplasia, respectively. The NHL cases include ten, 23, and 14 cases oflow grade, intermediate grade, and high grade NHL, respectively. The clinical and patl1ological features ofthese lesions were assessed. Immunohistochemical staining using peroxidase-labelled strepavidin-biotin technique was done to detect Bel-?., and p53 proteins. This study demonstrated the following observations: 1) the mean age incidence oflow grade NHL lymphoma was higher than that of both intermediate and high grade NHL. The age incidence decreased in the following order: low grade > intermediate grade >high grade, 2) there is slight female and maie sex predilection. in NHL and reactive lymphoid hyperplasia, respectively, wherease HD has male sex predilection, 3) most NHL were ofB-celllineage, 4) a gradual downregulation of Bel- 2 protein expression occured with the transition from low grade -intermediate grade

--+ high grade NHL, 5) p53 protein expression showed gradu3l upregulation with the