Frequent lack of translation of antigen presentation-associated molecules MHC class I, CD1a and Beta(2)-microglobulin in Reed-Sternberg cells

Abstract

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is present in Reed-Sternberg (RS) cells of a substantial proportion of Hodgkin's lymphoma cases. Most EBV-positive cases are also MHC class I-positive, whereas the majority of EBV-negative cases lack detectable levels of MHC class I expression. Application of the SAGE technique has led to the identification of tags corresponding to MHC class I and beta(2)-microglobulin genes in the EBV- and MHC class I-negative L428 Hodgkin's cell line. Further expression studies indicated that single RS cells that do not express HLA class I also lack beta(2)-microglobulins but frequently contain mRNA coding for these proteins. Another tag was identified corresponding to CD1a, a thymocyte and Langerhans cell antigen structurally related to the MHC class I genes. CD1a expression studies revealed mRNA in all cell lines and in several of the single cells, whereas immunostaining showed a cytoplasmic signal in only 2 of the 4 cell lines and in none of the Hodgkin's lymphoma tissue samples. In conclusion, RS cells frequently lack MHC class I, beta(2)-microglobulin and CD1a protein expression but contain mRNA coding for these proteins in some of the RS cells, suggesting a common mechanism affecting the translation of these antigen presentation-associated molecules.