Utility of CD38+ T-cell activation patterns determined by flow cytometry for prediction of classic Hodgkin lymphoma

Objectives: Classic Hodgkin lymphoma (CHL) is not typically diagnosed by routine clinical flow cytometry in most laboratories. While the neoplastic Hodgkin lymphoma/ Reed Sternberg (HRS) cells in CHL may be identified by flow cytometry using special procedures, the methodology used is not common. We observed increased CD38 expression on T-cells compared to Bcells/non-T-cells in cases of CHL compared to normal samples and confirmed our observations in the context of retrospective and prospective analyses. We identified and characterized distinctive features of background non-neoplastic T cells associated with classic Hodgkin lymphoma utilizing common antibodies and analysis methods.

Methods: Cases were retrospectively identified using a search for Hodgkin lymphoma in the Interpretation or comments of reports and prospectively identified with characteristic CD38 expression patterns on non-neoplastic cells and correlated with subsequent morphologic diagnoses.

Results: Retrospective and prospective analyses were identical with respect to predictability of CHL using the pattern analysis described in this paper. Retrospective and prospective analyses predicted the presence of CHL in 82% of cases. There is a statistically significant difference between non-neoplastic T-cells and B-cells/non-T-cells in cases of CHL compared to normal lymph nodes.

Conclusions: There is a distinctive background pattern of non-neoplastic cells associated with most cases CHL (82% in our analyses). There is a statistically significant difference between cases of CHL and normal lymph nodes with respect to the expression of CD38 on non-neoplastic T-cells and B-cells.

Introduction

Classic Hodgkin lymphoma (CHL) is not typically identified by routine clinical flow cytometry in most laboratories. While CHL and Hodgkin lymphoma/ Reed Sternberg (HRS) cells may be identified by flow cytometry utilizing special techniques, the methodology used is not commonly utilized by most clinical laboratories. We identified and characterized distinctive features of background non-neoplastic cells associated with CHL using common antibodies and analysis methods.

The background milieu of CHL has been described by some as a “cytokine soup.” In this context, an increase in the expression of CD38 on T-cells as a feature of activation appears to be predictive of Hodgkin lymphoma. Specifically, CD38 is upregulated on T-cells (predominantly CD4+ T-cells) and, when compared to background B-cells, has significantly different patterns of CD38 expression compared to non-neoplastic lymph nodes (Image 1). Recognizing these patterns can be useful for potentially identifying cases of CHL by flow cytometry while not specifically isolating HRS cells with special techniques. In this paper, we describe the background changes that are often seen in association with CHL utilizing commonly used antibodies and analysis methods.

Image 1: Examples of CD38 expression patterns on T-cells compared to B-cells in normal lymph node compared to CHL.
A. Normal lymph node (left) compared to CHL (right) showing general expression patterns of CD38 on T-cells (CD3+) and non T-cells (CD3-, B-cells and NK cells).
B. Case of classical Hodgkin lymphoma showing increased CD38 expression pattern on non B-cells (CD19-, T-cells and NK cells) compared to B-cells (CD19+).

There is upregulation of CD38 on non-neoplastic T-cells in cases of CHL compared to normal lymph nodes. Observations of these general patterns prompted us to investigate quantitative analyses of these patterns (Image 2).

Image 2: Examples of CD38 expression on T-cells and B-cells in normal sample and CHL with examples of ratio calculations.
A. Normal lymph node - example of ratio calculations comparing T-cells (CD3+) to non T-cells (CD3-, B-cells and NK cells)(left) and B-cells (CD19+) to non B-cells (CD19-, T-cells and NK cells)(right)(lymphocyte gate).
On the left, T-cells are compared to non-T-cells. CD3+/CD38+ bright is compared to CD3-/CD38+ bright. The T-cell to non T-cell ratio (CD3+/CD38+:CD3-/CD38+ ratio) for the brightest CD38+ cells is 2.1 (11.11/5.36).
On the right, non-B-cells (essentially T-cells) are compared to B-cells. CD19-/CD38+ bright is compared to CD19+/CD38+ bright. The non B-cell to B-cell ratio (CD19-/CD38:CD19+/CD38+ ratio) for the brightest CD38+ cells is 5.9 (6.81/1.16).
B. Case of CHL - example of ratio calculations comparing T-cells (CD3+) to non T-cells (CD3-, B-cells and NK cells)(left) and B-cells (CD19+) to non B-cells (CD19-, T-cells and NK cells)(right)(lymphocyte gate).
On the left, T-cells are compared to non-T-cells. CD3+/CD38+ bright compared to CD3-/CD38+ bright. The T-cell to non T-cell ratio (CD3+/CD38+:CD3-/CD38+ ratio) for the brightest CD38+ cells is 34 (44.44/1.32).
On the right, non-B-cells (essentially T-cells) are compared to B-cells. CD19-/CD38+ bright is compared to CD19+/CD38+ bright. The non B-cell ratio (essentially T-cells) to B-cell ratio (CD19-/CD38+: CD19+/CD38+ ratio) for the brightest CD38+ cells is 37 (41.89/1.13).

Materials and methods sample acquisition and processing

Tissue samples were submitted by referring facilities for clinical flow cytometric evaluation for non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Tissue samples were processed according to standard accepted methods for flow cytometric evaluation per CLIA and CAP standards in our CLIA certified/ CAP accredited laboratory.

Flow cytometry

Flow cytometry was performed on processed samples using a 3 laser, 4-2-2 configuration, 8color Beckton Dickinson (BD; San Jose, CA) Canto II flow cytometer using the flowing laserfluorochrome combinations: (1) 405-nm violet laser (2 colors), BD Horizon V450 and BD Horizon V500; (2) 488-nm blue laser (4 colors), fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), phycoerythrin (PE), peridinin chlorophyll protein/cyanine dye (PerCP-Cy5.5), and phycoerythrin/cyanine dye (PECy7; (3) 633-nm red laser (2 colors), allophycocyanin (APC), and allophycocyanin /cyanine dye analog (APC-H7).

The fluorescently labeled antibody cocktails used in this study were all manufactured by Beckton Dickinson.

Prior to Nov 3, 2011, relevant combinations/tubes used to compare CD38 expression included:

• FMC-7-FITC (FMC7), CD23-PE (EBVCS-5), CD19-PerCP-Cy5.5 (SJ25C1), CD5-PE-Cy7 (L17F12), CD38-APC (HB-7), CD45-APC-H7 (2D1), CD3-V450 (UCHT1)

• CD38-FITC (HB-7), CD11b-PE (D12), CD34-PerCP-Cy5.5 (8G12), CD117-PE-Cy7 (104D2), CD13-APC (WM15), CD45-APC-H7 (2D1), HLA-DR-V450 (L243), CD20-V500 (L27).

After Nov 3, 2011, relevant combinations used to compare CD38 expression included:

• CD57/FITC (HNK-1), CD8/PE (SK 1), 7-AAD, CD3/PE-Cy7 (SK7), CD4/APC (SK3), CD45/APCH7 (2D1), CD38/V450 (HB7)

• Kappa/FITC (TB 28-2), CD10/PE (HI 10A), 7-AAD, CD19/PE-Cy7 (SJ25C1), CD43/APC (1G10), CD45/APC-H7 (2D1), CD38/V450 (HB7), CD20/V500 (L27).

The tubes utilized were preexisting combinations typically used for screening for hematolymphoid neoplasia as part of a complete panel per established flow cytometry protocols. The tubes were chosen so T-cells (CD3+) could be compared to non-T-cells (predominantly B-cells, CD19+ or CD20+, and few NK cells), CD38 expression could be directly assessed on CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells, and/or B-cells (CD19+ or CD20+) could be compared to nonB-cells (predominantly T-cells, CD3+, and few NK cells) (Images 1-3). The different combinations utilized provided alternative ways to compare CD38 expression on T-cells compared to non-Tcells and assess for the patterns typically seen in association with CHL.

Image 3: T-cell mean and median values (A. CD3+ gating, B. CD4+ gating, C. Example of CD38 expression geometric mean and median for CD3+ T-cells).
A. Example of CD3+ gating (CD3 v SSC) to determine mean and median CD38 fluorescence (as shown in C).
B. Example of CD4+ gating (CD4 v SSC) to determine mean and median CD38 fluorescence.
C. CD38 mean and median fluorescence as determined by gating on CD3+ cells as shown in A (mean and median fluorescence calculated by WinList software).

To determine ratios, cursors were placed to compare the subsets of cells with the brightest CD38 expression (Image 2). If the typical pattern seen in cases of CHL was present, cursor placement typically corresponded to a value of 1% for non-T-cells. For normal cases, which did not have the pattern present, cursor placement corresponded to a value of less than 10% for non-T-cells (typically 5% or less).

Appropriate controls were used in addition to 7-AAD (separate tube prior to Nov 2011) for exclusion of non-viable elements. Only cases with sufficient cellularity were included (typically greater than 10,000 events per tube). Data were analyzed using WinList 3D, version 7.1, Verity Software House.

Retrospective analysis 1

An initial retrospective analysis consisted of a search of all tissue cases submitted for routine clinical flow cytometric analysis for evaluation for non-Hodgkin lymphoma interpreted by Esoterix Pathology Practice Group (EPPG) in Brentwood, TN (technical component performed by Integrated Oncology, Brentwood, TN) from May 1, 2010 - Nov 10, 2010 that were reported with the term “Hodgkin lymphoma” in which the reports had “suspicious for, suggestive of, or may represent Hodgkin lymphoma” in the Interpretation or Comments (based on the observation of increased CD38 expression on T-cells in cases of Hodgkin lymphoma). 51 cases were found where there was mention of the possibility of Hodgkin lymphoma based primarily on an increased proportion of relatively bright CD38 on T-cells compared to B-cells (typically 10:1 or greater) (Images 1 and 2) and secondarily on increased CD4:CD8 ratio (upper limit reference range for CD4:CD8 in lymph node samples is 11 in our facility with an N=40, a mean of 5.3, and SD of 2.7), a relative paucity of B-cells with no overt abnormal light chain expression/clonality, no increase in CD4+/CD57+ coexpression (associated with nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma), and/or no immunophenotypically abnormal Bcell or T-cell population. All corresponding morphologic diagnoses were confirmed via telephone and/or facsimile communication with the submitting pathologists.

Retrospective analysis 2

A second retrospective analysis was performed with morphologic correlation from a single institution (private pathology practice, unnamed) and consisted of identification of all tissue samples submitted to EPPG from this private practice group for routine clinical flow cytometric analysis for evaluation for non-Hodgkin lymphoma from January 20, 2010 to November 28, 2011 with concurrent tissue morphologic evaluation (N=98). Flow data were reviewed independent of morphologic evaluation to determine whether an increase in CD38 expression on T-cells was present and no immunophenotypically abnormal populations were present. Morphologic cases were also searched at the submitting institution for any cases of Hodgkin lymphoma where flow cytometry may have been signed out as negative (N=1) (samples from bone marrow and peripheral blood were not included) (reviewed by a single hematopathologist).

Prospective analysis

All tissue cases submitted for flow cytometry from Aug 6, 2014 – Mar 25, 2015 were screened primarily for an increased proportion (a ratio of greater than 10:1) of relatively bright CD38 seen on T-cells and secondarily for an increased CD4:CD8 ratio (typically >5:1), no overt B-cell light chain abnormality or abnormal T-cell population, or the presence of increased CD4+/CD57+ coexpression (often seen in cases of nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma). 57 cases were identified based on the above and signed out as “Atypical findings” with commentary as follows (or slightly modified) (based on the findings from Retrospective Analysis 1):

“There is an increased proportion of T-cells with relatively bright CD38 (feature of activation).

There is no B-cell light chain abnormality detected. Similar results are often associated with Hodgkin lymphoma. Less often, similar results may be seen in cases of large cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma where the neoplastic cells are not adequately represented by the flow data or as secondary/reactive changes in non-neoplastic lymph nodes (non-specific reactive changes, granulomatous disease/sarcoidosis, etc.). Correlation with all available clinical, laboratory, and morphologic data is necessary.” When cases meeting screening criteria as suspicious for Hodgkin lymphoma were identified and signed out as “Atypical findings” with the above Comments, submitting pathologists were called and the morphologic diagnosis was obtained when available. “Normal” samples were also verified by telephone communication with the submitting pathologists/institutions. Statistical comparison was determined by T-test analysis (Excel 2013).

CD38 Expression, mean and median values on T-cells and B-cells

Also within this prospective analysis, 20 confirmed cases of CHL (of the 47 confirmed cases) and 20 normal cases (of the normal cases) were further analyzed evaluating the geometric mean and median levels of coexpression of CD38 on B-cells and T-cells. These values were obtained by gating on the specific cell population and plotting the respective marker vs CD38 (Image 3). Mean and median expression values were calculated by the analysis software (WinList 3D, version 7.1, Verity Software House). Statistical comparison was determined by T-test analysis (Excel 2013) between normal and confirmed Hodgkin data sets.

Case of CHL, example of mean and median CD38 fluorescence obtained by specific population gating.

Examples of CD3+ and CD4+ T-cell gating strategies are shown in A and B to determine the mean and median fluorescence of CD38 expression on all T-cells and CD4+ T-cells. The mean and median fluorescence of CD38 expression resulting from such specific gating is shown in C.

Results

Retrospective analysis 1

Of the 51 cases identified (see “Materials and Methods”) that were reported with the term

“Hodgkin lymphoma” in which the reports had “suspicious for, suggestive of, or may represent Hodgkin lymphoma” in the Interpretation or Comments (based on the observation of increased CD38 expression on T-cells in cases of classical Hodgkin lymphoma):

• 42 cases were confirmed as classic Hodgkin lymphoma (82%),

• 3 were signed out as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma,

• 3 were reported as large B-cell lymphoma (but the description was not clear or supported very well with respect to the differential diagnosis of nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma versus T-cell rich, histiocyte rich large B-cell lymphoma),

• 1 was inconclusive, suspect Hodgkin, sample size precluded definitive diagnosis (limited tissue core biopsy),

• 1 was inconclusive as large B-cell lymphoma versus nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma, sample size precluded definitive diagnosis (limited tissue core biopsy), and

• 1 case had no confirmation of diagnosis.

Based on this initial retrospective analysis, we confirmed presumptive observations of an association between increased CD38 coexpression on T-cells compared to B-cells/non-T-cells and classical Hodgkin lymphoma.

Retrospective analysis 2

Of the 98 cases identified (see “Materials and Methods”) that had morphologic correlation for all tissue cases submitted from a single, outside institution for flow cytometry for evaluation for non-Hodgkin lymphoma:

• 4 cases exhibited the flow cytometry patterns typically associated with CHL and were consistent with CHL morphologically,

• 93 cases did not have the flow cytometry patterns typically associated with CHL and there was no morphologic evidence of CHL, and

• 1 case did not have the flow cytometry patterns typically associated with CHL but was morphologically consistent with CHL,

• no cases exhibited the flow cytometry patterns typically associated with CHL without having features of CHL morphologically.

The sensitivity and specify were calculated along with the positive predictive value (PPV), and the negative predictive value (NPV).

Based on retrospective analysis 2, the following were calculated:

Sensitivity = 80%

Specificity = 100%

Positive predictive value = 100%

Negative predictive value = 99%

Prospective Analysis

Of 57 cases that had flow cytometry patterns typically associated with CHL (Table 1), 47 were confirmed as CHL based on morphology (Table 2) (nodular sclerosis, mixed cellularity, lymphocyte rich, lymphocyte depleted, not specified). 10 were not definitively diagnosed as CHL and included:

• 1 differential diagnosis DLBCL versus CHL

• 1 PTCL versus ALCL

• 3 atypical, suspicious for HL

• 1 non-specific/non-diagnostic

• 1 NLPHL

• 1 rare atypical cells

• 1 DLBCL

• 1 sarcoid

For comparison, 60 normal/non-neoplastic cases were identified and comparable analyses were performed between cases demonstrating the pattern associated with CHL and normal cases. T-test was used to compare differences between normal and patient samples (Excel 2013).

With respect to cases with the Hodgkin pattern vs normal, highly statistically significant parameters (P<0.001) included (Table 2): amount of polytypic B-cells ratio of CD3+/CD38+ cells to CD3-/CD38+ cells (Image 2) ratio of CD19-/CD38+ cells to CD19+/CD38+ cells (Image 2).

Parameters not highly significantly different (P>0.001) included (Table 2):

number of events

viability

% lymphocytes

4:8 ratio

CD4+/CD57+ T-cells amount of NK cells age sex

Overall PPV 47/57 = 82%

Table 2 presents descriptive prospective analysis data (cases that express Hodgkin Pattern compared to normal.

The 47 confirmed cases of CHL were then isolated and compared to normal cases.

With respect cases confirmed as CHL vs normal, highly statistically significant parameters (P<0.001) included (Table 3): amount of polytypic B-cells ratio of CD3+/CD38+ cells to CD3-/CD38+ cells (Image 2) ratio of CD19-/CD38+ cells to CD19+/CD38+ cells (Image 2)

Parameters not highly significantly different (P>0.001) included (Table 3):

number of events

viability

% lymphocytes

4:8 ratio

CD4+/CD57+ T-cells amount of NK cells age sex

The following mean and median CD38 coexpression values were highly statistically significant (P<0.001) (Table 4):

CD4+/CD38+ mean, CD4+/CD38+ median, CD3+/CD38+ mean, CD3+/CD38+ median

The following mean and median CD38 coexpression values were not highly statistically significant (P>0.001) (Table 4):

CD8+/CD38+ mean, CD8+/CD38+ median, CD19+/CD38+ mean, CD19+/CD38+ median

We observed increased CD38 expression on T-cells compared to B-cells/non-T-cells in cases of CHL compared to normal samples many years ago (Images 1 and 2). We attempted to confirm our observations in the context of retrospective and prospective analyses and subsequently share our observations such that others can hopefully recognize these patterns that should be easily reproducible in most clinical flow cytometry laboratories without adding new markers or analytical methods.

Our initial retrospective analysis (Retrospective Analysis 1) indicated a predictive value of 82% for CHL when the increased expression of CD38 on T-cells as we describe was present in the absence of another lymphoid neoplasm.

Our second retrospective analysis (Retrospective Analysis 2) was performed to include all tissue cases from a single institution that were submitted for flow cytometric analysis to capture possible cases where flow cytometry may be reported as negative/normal despite the presence of CHL as determined by morphologic review. Using our criteria, this retrospective analysis showed a sensitivity of 80%, specificity of 100%, positive predictive value of 100%, and a negative predictive value of 99% for CHL. While these may appear promising, we realize higher numbers of cases might potentially reveal a lower specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value.

Our prospective analysis (Prospective Analysis) had a positive predictive value of 82% when the increased expression of CD38 on T-cells as we described was present in the absence of another lymphoid neoplasm. Parameters such as sensitivity, specificity, and negative predictive value in this context are not calculable as not all cases which were signed out as negative were able to be correlated with morphology. We understand the limitations here, and the primary goals of our analyses were to determine if the pattern was present, how predictive was the pattern of CHL (positive predictive value) and how different were these samples compared to normal lymph node samples.

Mean and median CD38 coexpression values were compared between cases of CHL and normal/non-neoplastic cases (Table 4). Highly statistically significant differences included mean CD4+/CD38+ coexpression, median CD4+/CD38+ coexpression, mean CD3+/CD38+ coexpression, and median CD3+/CD38+ coexpression. This analysis confirmed underlying assumptions regarding the patterns we describe.

Using a pattern based approach, we found the ability to predict the presence of CHL was at least 82%. Our approach employs antibodies and analysis methods commonly used in most clinical flow cytometry laboratories (specifically, CD38 and common B-cell and T-cell markers), and the patterns we describe can be used to alert those interpreting flow cytometry data to a likely association with CHL.

Our findings demonstrate how antibodies commonly used by most clinical flow cytometry laboratories can be used to predict the presence of CHL. There are, however, some considerations when evaluating CD38 expression on T-cells. As a general marker of activation, CD38 can be upregulated in a variety of conditions. In particular, viral infections (EBV/ infectious mononucleosis, CMV, etc.) can have increased CD38 on T-cells. But the brightest CD38 T-cells in these cases are typically CD8+, in contrast to what we typically see in cases of CHL where CD4+ T-cells typically predominate. For this reason, we routinely run CD38 in the same tube with CD4 and CD8. Also, in our experience, metastatic disease may have increased CD38 on T-cells, often predominated by CD8+ T-cells. Conditions in which normal CD4+ T-cell subpopulations are depleted or the immune response is suppressed (HIV or other causes of immunosuppression) may not show the typical T-cells patterns we describe, even in the presence of CHL. The patterns we describe may also be seen in association with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, but if there is no definitive evidence of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, the patterns we describe are typically associated with CHL. As our data show, the patterns we describe, even when there is no definitive evidence of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, may be seen in cases of large B-cell lymphoma, T-cell lymphoma, or sarcoidosis.

CD38 and other markers in cases of CHL

The immunological role of CD38 has been explored widely in murine models and a whole society is devoted to elucidating its role. It can be found in multiple tissues in the body but in Tcells it “may indirectly regulate signaling by catabolizing NAD+ and altering or preventing the activity of NAD+-metabolizing enzymes such as ART2, SIRT1 and PARP” and knockout mice of CD38 have shown increased autoimmune functions (enhancement of antibody mediated tissue damage); however there are multiple cell types that express CD38 and different calcium dependent and independent pathways that have yet to be studied [1,2]. Because of the numerous cell types that express CD38 in the body, this does not appear to be a candidate for future drug therapy [2]. CD38 on T-cells is expressed preferentially at early and late stages but not in the middle/resting stage [3]. It is tightly regulated and CD38+ cells (in murine models) were also positive for CD25 and CD69, “confirming their activated status, although these markers were also seen on CD38- cells, inexplicably” [4]. Its true function is poorly understood and its murine analog, CD39, is “one of the first characterized but perhaps the least understood lymphocyte differentiation antigens” [3]. No CD38-negative human has been identified, implying its absence is incompatible with life. CD38 KO mice can live and reproduce but show “selective deficiencies of the innate and adaptive immune system” [2].

Several groups have looked at the non-neoplastic cells in CHL. Di Gaetano et al. reported anergic CD4+CD26- T lymphocytes frequently express high levels of CD38 in cases of CHL and that CHL cases compared to benign lymph nodes expressed significantly higher CD38 and showed decreased expression of CD26 with statistical significance; however, this was based on median and intraquartile ranges with no further commentary as to how to use this in practice [5]. We showed an even stronger significance when isolating CD3+/CD38 and CD19-/CD38+ cells and analyzing the ratios of the brightest CD38 expressing T-cells compared to CD3+/CD38- cells and CD19-/CD38- cells, respectively. They combined this information to demonstrate higher CD4+/CD26-/CD38+ cells in CHL compared to normal patients and suggested that this particular subset of T-cells could be linked to Treg cells and an inverse relationship of CD38 and CD26 in its contribution to tumor escape by HRS cells from the immune system by increasing levels of immunosuppressive adenosine [5]. We agree with this group’s advocacy for an evaluation of Hodgkin microenvironment lymphocytes via flow cytometry as viable alternative for evaluation for Hodgkin lymphoma via its unique interplay with the surrounding immune system; however, CD26 is not as commonly used as CD38 in most screening clinical flow cytometry testing.

Some studies have focused on increased numbers of Treg CD4+/CD25+ cells in Hodgkin lymphoma as well as groups studying T regulatory 1 (T-reg, IL-10 secreting) cells working in conjunction with CD4+CD25+ Treg cells, both of which together inhibit an anti-tumor response [5-8]. Although regulatory T-cells are documented in other human neoplasms, the quantitative and qualitative activity of these regulatory T-cells in CHL in particular is unique [7]. Another group looked at the increased percentage of CD4 bright CD25+ regulatory T-cells in CHL when compared to reactive lymphoid hyperplasia. It showed that when evaluating for CD4+/CD25+ coexpression, the median percentage of 9% (percentage of total gated nongranular cells or medial normalized ratio of two cell subsets) varied significantly from reactive lymph nodes (2%) [9].

CD152 and CD25 have also been studied in cases of CHL by comparing CD152 expression on CD4+/CD25+ cells. Using these combinations of markers, CHL was distinguished from benign lymph nodes with 79% sensitivity and 100% specificity and again postulating that the detection of Treg cells “may be a useful tool in distinguishing CHL from other entities” [8]. They also noted that the CD4:CD8 ratio was of limited utility to distinguish between benign and malignant cases. Again, CD152 is not widely used in most clinical flow cytometry laboratories.

Other groups have looked at patterns of T-cell markers in CHL, including an increased CD4:CD8 ratio and increased CD7 on both CD4 and CD8 T-cells compared with reactive lymph nodes [10]. However, using the expression of a single T-cell marker has shown a diagnostic ability of being able to correctly diagnose HL in 37 of 47 FNA cases (78%) of known HL and uses median values that would require further analysis and validation rather than using pattern recognition and simple ratios that we describe. We did find slightly higher CD4:CD8 ratios in cases of Hodgkin lymphoma compared to normal. Our study did not directly identify HRS cells and we did not specifically assess CD7 or CD3 expression in cases of CHL, but we did assess CD38 coexpression on T-cells and showed the expression of CD38 on T-cells was highly significantly different in cases of CHL compared to normal lymph nodes.

The non-neoplastic immune cells in CHL are attracted to the cytokines released by the HRS cells and, in turn, secrete cytokines that contribute to an immune protective function to the HRS cells themselves through a complicated myriad of cytokine interactions [6]. CD4+ helper T-cells have been reported to be the majority of the cells in the CHL microenvironment (the mean CD4:CD8 ratio in our study was 5.2 in normal cases vs. 7.7 in CHL) [6,7,9]. These T-cells have been shown to be the TH1 (activation marker rich) variety rather than senescent TH2 hypofunctional T-cells [6]. A predilection for CD4+ cells in the Hodgkin microenvironment as well as Th1 cells preferentially located near RS cells has also been reported [9-16]. But HRS cells avoid the immune system by escaping apoptosis (via latent EBV infection, resulting in polymorphisms of HLA Class I to allow for escape from CD8 cells), down regulation of HLA Class I in EBV-negative cases, upgrading signaling to promote survival, altering the CD4 cells to select for favorable allies not to induce antigen presenting cell signaling, and producing soluble HLA-G to allow from escape from NK cells that otherwise would have responded to the loss of HLA Class I receptors on the surface of the HRS cell [17]. These T-cell changes in CHL are manifested in the activation of T-cells and in the T-cell patterns we describe.

Conclusions

T-cells in cases of classic Hodgkin lymphoma show upregulation of CD38 that is significantly different than in cases of normal lymph nodes based on pattern recognition as well the quantification of CD38 expression. Using our pattern recognition and analysis, we found the positive predictive value of the presence of classic Hodgkin lymphoma to be at least 82%. In the absence of definitively abnormal/ neoplastic populations, such patterns should be recognized by those interpreting flow data as being frequently associated with classic Hodgkin lymphoma and less frequently associated with other lymphomas and non-neoplastic conditions.

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