Equine malignant lymphomas: morphologic and immunohistochemical classification

Vet Pathol. 1998 Jul;35(4):241-52. doi: 10.1177/030098589803500402.

Abstract

Gross lesions, microscopic appearance, and immunophenotyping are reported in a retrospective study of 31 cases of equine malignant lymphoma. Immunohistochemical studies were performed on archived formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues. Monoclonal antibodies to surface glycoprotein BLA.36 and intracytoplasmic domains of mb-1 and B29 were used to document the presence of B lymphocytes in the equine tumors. Polyclonal antibody to CD3 and monoclonal antibodies to T-lymphocyte markers CD3 and CD5 revealed the presence of variable numbers of T cells within the equine lymphomas. The neoplastic component of the equine lymphomas was determined through morphologic evaluation, immunophenotyping, and the use of proliferation markers Ki-67 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen. Equine malignant lymphomas were composed of a heterogeneous cell population. Most tumors contained B and T lymphocytes. Twenty-four horses had diffuse lymphomas derived from B lymphocytes. Thirteen of these lymphomas contained primarily neoplastic B lymphocytes. Eleven additional cases of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma contained from 40% to 80% nonneoplastic T lymphocytes and were classified as T-cell-rich, large B-cell lymphomas. This is the first description of T-cell-rich, B-cell lymphoma in the horse. Six tumors with a diffuse architecture were derived from T lymphocytes. Four T-cell tumors were large-cell tumors, 1 was a small-cell tumor, and in 1 tumor the size of the cells could not be determined accurately because of autolytic change in the tissues. One diffuse large-cell lymphoma did not react with either B- or T-cell markers.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / analysis
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • B-Lymphocytes / pathology*
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / immunology
  • Horse Diseases / pathology*
  • Horses
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques / veterinary
  • Immunophenotyping / veterinary
  • Ki-67 Antigen / analysis
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / immunology
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / pathology
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / veterinary*
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / immunology
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / pathology
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / veterinary*
  • Male
  • Retrospective Studies
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / pathology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Ki-67 Antigen