T-cell lymphoma Stained with Anti-CD4
The CD4 molecule is a glycoprotein, belonging to immunoglobulin superfamily that is associated with HLA class II antigen recognition. It is a co-receptor that assists the T-cell receptor (TCR) with an antigen-presenting cell and also interacts directly with MHC class II molecules on the surface of the antigen-presenting cells using its extracellular domain. In lymphatic tissues, the CD4+ T cells are seen in large numbers in the parafollicular zone, while scattered cells are found in the germinal centres and mantle zone. CD4 is also demonstrated in hepatic sinusoidal cells, monocytes and monocytes-derived cells but not expressed on B cells and immature thymocytes. Most mature T-cell lymphomas are CD4 positive with the exception of aggressive NK-cell leukaemia and extranodal NK/T-cell lymphomas: subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma (which is usually CD8 positive), enteropathy-type T-cell lymphoma and hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma. CD4 is also expressed in histiocytic sarcomas and Langerhans cell histiocytosis as well as in splenic littoral cell haemangioma. CD4 plays an important role in the classification of lymphocytes in inflammatory lesions and malignant lymphomas.
The CD4 molecule is a glycoprotein, belonging to immunoglobulin superfamily that is associated with HLA class II antigen recognition. It is a co-receptor that assists the T-cell receptor (TCR) with an antigen-presenting cell and also interacts directly with MHC class II molecules on the surface of the antigen-presenting cells using its extracellular domain. In lymphatic tissues, the CD4+ T cells are seen in large numbers in the parafollicular zone, while scattered cells are found in the germinal centres and mantle zone. CD4 is also demonstrated in hepatic sinusoidal cells, monocytes and monocytes-derived cells but not expressed on B cells and immature thymocytes. Most mature T-cell lymphomas are CD4 positive with the exception of aggressive NK-cell leukaemia and extranodal NK/T-cell lymphomas: subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma (which is usually CD8 positive), enteropathy-type T-cell lymphoma and hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma. CD4 is also expressed in histiocytic sarcomas and Langerhans cell histiocytosis as well as in splenic littoral cell haemangioma. CD4 plays an important role in the classification of lymphocytes in inflammatory lesions and malignant lymphomas.
