Immunohistochemical determination of CD23 expression in Hodgkin's disease using paraffin section

Abstract
The leukocyte antigen CD23 is expressed during B‐cell development, and functions as an IgE receptor and a lymphocyte growth factor. We studied the expression of CD23 in paraffin sections of lymphoid tissue using the monoclonal antibody BU38. Fifteen cases of Hodgkin's disease, ten reactive lymph nodes, eight B‐cell, and seven T‐cell non‐Hodgkin's lymphomas were analysed immunohistologically. CD23 positivity was seen on follicular dendritic cells and a small number of lymphocytes in reactive nodes. Thirteen of the 15 cases of Hodgkin's disease showed CD23 expression in both neoplastic cells and reactive lymphocytic infiltrate. The antigen was demonstrated in four of the B‐cell of the T‐cell tumours. CD23 may be important in mediating she mixed cellular infiltrate characteristic of Hodgkin's lymphoma.