question about Hodgkin's lymphoma?

[carrigallen]

Our syllabus says that Hodgkins lymphoma results in T-cell mediated immune deficiency. This sounds weird, since I think that Hodgkin's lymphoma is a B-cell malignancy.

At the same time, it may make some sense, since Hodgkins lymphoma initially results from helper T-cells failing to destroy a transformed B-cell. Can anyone explain the mechanism of how Hodgkins impacts T-cell immunity?

We are doing microbiology, so we haven't covered any hematological malignancies yet. I'm just curious why Hodgkins would cause a T-cell mediated immune deficiency.

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[pikachu]

I don't think the exact mechanism has been fully defined. Reed-Sternberg cells may produce cytokines that suppress T-cell action. The CD30 receptor which is present among all clonal tumor cells in Hodgkin's lymphoma directly inhibits T cell proliferation and is also thought to play a role. however, there are data which suggest that Hodgkin's itself is due to a defect in T cell mediated immunity against abnormal B cell clones (perhaps generated by EBV infection). So it may be something of a chicken-and-egg question.

 

[carrigallen]

thank you pikachu

 

[UCSBMed1]

I don't think the exact mechanism has been fully defined. Reed-Sternberg cells may produce cytokines that suppress T-cell action. The CD30 receptor which is present among all clonal tumor cells in Hodgkin's lymphoma directly inhibits T cell proliferation and is also thought to play a role. however, there are data which suggest that Hodgkin's itself is due to a defect in T cell mediated immunity against abnormal B cell clones (perhaps generated by EBV infection). So it may be something of a chicken-and-egg question.

Good answer! Couldn't have said it better myself.