(American Journal of Pathology. 2001;158:1363-1369.)
© 2001 American Society for Investigative Pathology
Unique Phenotypic Profile of Monocytoid B Cells
Differences in Comparison with the Phenotypic Profile Observed in Marginal Zone B Cells and So-Called Monocytoid B Cell Lymphoma
Francisca I. Camacho,
Juan F. García,
Lydia Sánchez-Verde,
Ana I. Sáez,
Margarita Sánchez-Beato,
Manuela Mollejo and
Miguel A. Piris
From the Programa de Patología Molecular, Centro Nacional
de Investigaciones Oncológicas, Madrid; and the Hospital Virgen
de la Salud, Toledo, Spain
 |
Abstract
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Monocytoid B cells (MBCs) are a subset of B cells that may be
recognized in several reactive and tumoral lymph node
conditions, including toxoplasmic lymphadenitis,
infectious mononucleosis, and Hodgkins lymphoma. Although
this is a commonly observed cell population, which has even
given its name to a type of lymphoma, MBC lymphoma,
scarcely any information is available about the function and
characteristics of this cell type. A relationship with marginal zone
(MZ) B lymphocytes has been claimed for MBCs, but this has not
yet been fully proven. Indeed, specific markers for MBCs are
still lacking, which has made it difficult to analyze their
relationship with other B cell subpopulations and confirm the existence
of tumors deriving from this B cell subset. We used a panel of cell
cycle markers to explore the characteristics of MBCs and their
relationship with MZ B cells, nodal MZ lymphoma, and
splenic MZ lymphoma. We therefore compared the phenotypic profile of
MBCs in different conditions with normal MZ B cells within the spleen
and mesenteric lymph nodes, with a group of seven cases of
nodal MZ/MBC lymphoma and another group of five cases of splenic MZ
lymphoma. MBCs were mainly in the G0 to G1
phases, as deduced from the presence of a proportion of between
10 and 35% Ki67-positive cells, whereas very low expression
was observed with cyclin A and cyclin B staining. Nests of MBCs were
clearly labeled by the expression of p21WAF1, a
cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (CKI), rarely detectable in
benign lymphocytes, and by cyclin E. Basically all MBCs were
bcl-2-negative, and high cyclin D2 and cyclin D3 were also
detected in these cells, at proportions and intensities above
expected levels, when the percentage of proliferating cells was
taken into account. p27KIP1 expression was characterized by
homogeneous reactivity, higher than that observed in other B
cell populations with a relatively high-growth fraction. Immunoglobulin
staining showed undetectable light and heavy chains. However,
splenic MZ cells, nodal MZ lymphoma, and splenic MZ
lymphoma showed a distinct expression of IgM and bcl-2, with
high p27 KIP1 nuclear expression and undetectable or low
levels of cyclin A, B, E, or D, or
p21WAF1 expression. The data from this study show an
unexpected immunophenotype in MBCs, different from the one
observed in splenic and lymph node MZ B cells. This suggests that
either MBCs are a unique B cell population from a distinct cell
lineage, or if related to MZ cells, they would
represent a definite differentiation stage characterized by a
distinctive immunophenotype. They also show so-called MZ/MBC lymphoma
to be more closely related to lymph node and splenic MZ B
cells, as they do not share the most distinctive features of
MBCs.
 |
Introduction
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Monocytoid B cells (MBCs) are a
subset of B cells that may be recognized in several reactive and
tumoral lymph node conditions, including toxoplasmic lymphadenitis,
infectious mononucleosis, and Hodgkins lymphoma.1-5
They are situated in clusters inside and around intermediary sinuses,
adjacent to the subcapsular sinus and forming parafollicular rims. The
cytological features of MBCs are the presence of abundant pale to clear
cytoplasm, medium size, and bland-looking irregular nuclei with
inconspicuous nucleoli.
A relationship with marginal zone (MZ) B lymphocytes has been claimed
for this B cell subpopulation, based mainly on architectural
localization and cytology, but also on the proposed IgM+, IgD-
immunophenotype and the results of mutational analysis of rearranged
immunoglobulin variable genes (VH).6-8
Although a clear
relationship may be established between splenic MZ cells and Peyers
patches MZ lymphocytes, based on the presence of an immunophenotype of
IgM+, IgD-, alkaline phosphatase+, 4D12+, CD21+,9
this
has not yet been fully proved for MBCs.
Specific markers for MBCs are still lacking, and this makes it
difficult to analyze their relationship with other B cell
subpopulations and to confirm the existence of tumors derived from this
cell subpopulation. This difficulty is reflected in the denomination of
the tumors that are thought to derive from MBCs, which have recently
been termed MZ B cell lymphoma/MBC lymphoma
(MZL/MBCL),.10-12
This suggests that both subpopulations,
MBCs and MZ cells, belong to the same cell lineage, and has in fact led
to the use of MZ cells or MBCs as almost equivalent terms.
Nevertheless, the only data, which seem to show there is a relationship
between MBCs and MZL/MBCL, are morphological, and they are based on the
architectural feature of parafollicular localization and the presence
of clear cytoplasm.
These difficulties in the identification of MBCs have been used as an
explanation for the differences in the frequency of IgH somatic
mutations reported in the studies performed to date,8,13
these differences having been attributed to the technique of
identification and microdissection of MBCs.
Immunohistochemical analysis of human tissues has shown that the
expression of specific cyclin and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors
(CKIs) is dependent on tissue and cell type, which provides additional
markers for the identification of cell
subpopulations.14,15
Analysis of reactive lymphoid tissue
with antibodies for cyclins and CKIs has shown that nontumoral lymphoid
tissue shows some peculiarities in the expression of cyclins and CKIs.
Thus, in opposition to what is usually observed in epithelial tissues,
normal lymphocytes express almost undetectable levels of
p21WAF1 expression.15
As in other
tissues, p27KIP1 is expressed by resting cells,
and no expression by proliferating cells has been
observed.16
At the same time, lymphoid cells usually show
an inverse expression pattern of bcl-2 and Ki67. This has been said to
be a result of the division of the lymphocytes in a pool of bcl-2+
long-lived memory cells and another section of bcl-2- short-lived
proliferating cells.17-19
Lymphoid cells do not express
cyclin D1 at detectable levels, and only display weak cyclin E
expression, whereas they show an intermediate level of expression of
cyclin D2 and cyclin D3. These cyclin D2- and cyclin D3-positive cells
correspond to the proliferating cells inside and outside the germinal
center.
We used a panel of these cell cycle markers to explore the
characteristics of MBCs and their relationship with splenic and nodal
marginal B cells, as well as nodal MZ B cell lymphoma/MBCL and splenic
MZ lymphoma (SMZL).
 |
Materials and Methods
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Cases
Six lymph nodes with toxoplasmic lymphadenitis, three cases of
nontoxoplasmic lymphadenitis, and four lymph nodes with classical mixed
cellularity Hodgkins disease were included in this study. All of them
showed a conspicuous presence of MBCs, detectable by morphological
observation.
For the study of splenic MZ B cells, six splenectomy specimens from
cases of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpure and spleens removed
incidentally during abdominal surgery were included. Four cases of
mesenteric lymph nodes with MZ B cell hyperplasia were also included,
as were seven cases with nodal MZL/MBCL. Tumors were diagnosed in the
cervical (three cases), inguinal (two cases), or axillary (two cases)
lymph nodes. All cases were considered primary nodal MZL/MBCL, because
no evidence was observed of mucosal involvement in any localization.
All of these cases showed an IgD- phenotype. On the other hand, we
studied five cases of SMZL. The criteria used in the recognition of
nodal MZL/MBCL and SMZL were taken from the REAL
Classification.20
Tissues
All specimens had been fixed in 10% buffered formalin and after
dehydration steps in alcohol series they were embedded in paraffin.
Immunohistochemical Technique
Paraffin sections (4 mm) were dehydrated and deparaffinized
according to standard procedures. Pressure cooker-based antigen
retrieval was performed for 3 minutes, with 10 mmol/L of sodium citrate
buffer at pH 6. This was followed by incubation with the primary
antibodies described in Table 1
.
Immunodetection was performed with biotinylated anti-mouse anti-rabbit
immunoglobulins, followed by peroxidase-labeled streptavidin
(LSAB-DAKO, Glostrup, Denmark) and diaminobenzidine chromogen as
substrate. All immunostaining was performed using the Techmate 500
(DAKO) automatic immunostaining device.
Immunohistochemistry Evaluation
Those proteins with nuclear staining and cyclin B were
quantitatively evaluated. The relative percentage of positive cells was
evaluated using a 10 x 10 square grid fitted into the eyepiece of
the microscope and with an objective lens of x40. At least 200 cells
were counted in every case. Heavy and light chains, and bcl-2 proteins,
which have cytoplasmic expression, were qualitatively evaluated.
 |
Results
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MBCs are mainly in the
G0-G1 phases, as is shown
by Ki67, cyclin A, and cyclin B staining. Thus, although a relatively
high proportion of between 10 and 35% of MBCs were Ki67-positive, the
fraction of cyclin A-positive cells was always <5%; and the presence
of cyclin B-positive cells, all of them showing cytoplasmic
localization, was rarely observed (Figure 1
and Table 2
).

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Figure 1. A: Expression of different cell cycle proteins in MBCs in a
case of toxoplasmic lymphadenitis. B: Detail of the
expression of IgM, bcl-2, p21WAF1, cyclin E, and
p27KIP1.
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MBCs also showed some peculiarities in the expression of cyclins and
CKIs. Thus, in opposition to what is seen in other lymphoid
subpopulations, all MBCs were basically bcl-2-negative, independently
of Ki67 expression. Additionally, most MBCs were clearly labeled by the
expression of p21WAF1, a CKI rarely detectable in
benign lymphocytes. The same situation was observed with cyclin E,
which was hardly detectable in isolated germinal center B cells, and
frequently expressed in contrast, by MBCs. High levels of cyclin D2 and
cyclin D3 protein were also detected in these cells, in a proportion
and intensity above expected levels, taking into account the percentage
of proliferating cells. p27KIP1 expression in
these cells was characterized by homogeneous reactivity, higher than
that observed in other B cell populations with a relatively high growth
fraction (Figure 1
and Table 2
). Immunoglobulin staining showed
undetectable kappa, lambda, IgM, IgA, and IgD, with only weak imprecise
IgG staining attributable to the background existent within the lymph
node sinuses. No difference was observed in the immunophenotype of MBCs
between toxoplasmic lymphadenitis, nontoxoplasmic lymphadenitis, and
Hodgkins disease.
The immunophenotype of MZ cells in mesenteric lymph nodes and spleens
differs strongly from that which is observed in MBCs. Thus MZ cells
show distinct immunoglobulin staining (IgM), bcl-2 expression, with a
low growth fraction, high and homogenous p27KIP1
nuclear expression, and undetectable levels of cyclin A, B, E, or D, or
p21WAF1 expression (Figure 2
and Table 2
).

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Figure 2. A: Expression of IgM, bcl-2, p21WAF1,
and cyclin E in a case of mesenteric lymph node with MZ B cell
hyperplasia. B: Expression of IgM, bcl-2,
p21WAF1, and cyclin E in a case of spleen with MZ
B cell hyperplasia.
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Nodal MZL/MBCL cases display an immunophenotype different from the one
observed in MBCs, and similar to that of MZ B cells. Thus, all cases of
MZ lymphoma were IgM- or IgG-positive and had a
-restriction light
chain. Most tumoral cells in all cases showed bcl-2 positivity, and
essentially lacked any labeling for p53, p21WAF1,
cyclin D1, and cyclin D2. The level of expression of cyclin A and
cyclin B was low. A low level of expression was also observed with
cyclin D3. All but two cases were negative for cyclin E (Figure 3
and
Table 2
). SMZL here analyzed coincide in showing the same
immunophenotype Ig+, bcl-2+, with very low or absence of
p21WAF1, cyclin E, cyclin D2, and cyclin D3
expression. All but one case showed low or negative p53 nuclear
expression.

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Figure 3. A: Expression of different cell cycle proteins in a case of
MZL/MBCL. B: Detail of the expression of IgM, bcl-2,
p21WAF1, cyclin E, and
p27KIP1.
|
|
 |
Discussion
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The data of this study show an unexpected immunophenotype in MBCs,
different from that which is observed in other B cell subpopulations.
This suggests the need to relocate MBCs as a cell subpopulation with a
unique phenotype, different from splenic and nodal MZ B cells, whose
relationship with other B cell subpopulations needs to be
reinvestigated. These observations are also supported by a recent study
of Stein and colleagues13
showing absence of Ig protein
and mRNA expression by MBCs.
MBCs nests seem to be mainly formed by cells in the
G0 or G1 phases, which
usually do not proceed to the S and G2/M phases
of the cell cycle, as is shown by the low proportion of cyclin A and
cyclin B staining. The relatively high level of expression of
p21WAF1 and p27KIP1 would
explain the existence of a negative balance of the cell cycle
regulators that, despite increased cyclin D2, D3, and E staining, keeps
MBCs in the G0/G1 phases,
in a similar manner to that which has been described in other cell
types.21
The absence of bcl-2 staining in nonproliferating lymphoid cells is an
unusual observation, and confirms previous findings.22-25
Consistently with the bcl-2- immunophenotype observed in proliferating
germinal center B cells, it has been demonstrated that bcl-2 expression
confers longer average life on memory cells, protecting them against
apoptosis.17-19
It seems that for MBCs either the
expression of bcl-2 is dispensable, or that these Ig-negative cells do
not need to survive as memory cells.
These data also show a homogeneous profile in MBCs, and this does not
support previous suggestions about the possibly heterogeneous nature of
the cells included within these nests.8
Two different groups8,13
have recently provided additional
data in favor of the hypothesis that MBCs constitute a different cell
subpopulation. Although in different proportions, when studying the
sequence and mutation of the IgH rearrangements, they found a lower
frequency of somatic mutations than is the case in MZ and germinal
center B cells. Stein and colleagues13
investigate the
differentiation stage of MBCs in relation to other B cell subsets,
showing that the majority of these B cells originate from unmutated
naive B cells at a pregerminal center stage of differentiation.
Although their architectural location around lymphoid follicles has
suggested that MBCs could be related to lymph node or splenic MZ cells,
these data raise additional doubts about the nature of this
relationship. Thus MZ cells in the spleen and lymph node are
consistently IgM+, bcl-2+ and lack expression of
p21WAF1 and cyclin E.
Additionally, we observed moderate to high cyclin D3 expression in
MBCs, higher than expected taken into account the growth fraction.
Different data suggest that cyclin D3 protein could have a dual role,
its expression correlating either with proliferation or the induction
and establishment of differentiation, as has been observed in some
tissues, including hematopoietic tissue.26,27
A high level
of cyclin D3 in MBCs could be consistent with a hypothetical role of
the induction of differentiation in this B cell subpopulation, in a
specific tissue microenvironment. Alternatively it could be argued that
the immunophenotype of MBCs reflects changes that are secondary to
location in a different microenvironment, adjacent to or within the
lymph node sinuses, where there is a loss of adhesion to the
extracellular matrix.
The recognition of this phenotypic profile in MBCs also makes it
possible to reconsider the hypothetical origin of the tumors that used
to be classified as MBC lymphoma. Thus the data collected here support
the hypothesis that these lymphomas do not share most of the markers
observed in MBCs, whereas they do seem to display a very similar
immunophenotype to reactive MZ B cells, in both the spleen and lymph
nodes, thereby supporting their denomination as MZL. The question of
whether there is any tumoral counterpart of MBCs awaits the
identification of cases that more closely mimic the morphology and
immunophenotype of MBCs.
To summarize, with respect to the relationship between MZ cells and
MBCs, the data given here strongly support the hypotheses that either
MBCs is a unique B cell population from a different cell lineage, or
that if they are related to MZ cells, they would represent a definite
differentiation stage characterized by a distinctive immunophenotype.
 |
Acknowledgements
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We thank Dr. J. C. Martinez-Montero for his kind help with
the immunohistochemical techniques, Dr. Sergio Moreno for his useful
suggestions, and Maria Jesús Acuña for excellent technical
assistance.
 |
Footnotes
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Address reprint requests to Miguel A Piris, "Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas Carlos III," Carretera Majadahonda-Pozuelo Km.2, 28220 Majadahonda (Madrid), Spain. E-mail:
mapiris{at}cnio.es
Supported by a grant from the Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias (FIS 98/993), Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo, and the Comision Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnologia (1FD97-0431), Spain.
Accepted for publication December 18, 2000.
 |
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