Histological progression of follicular centre cell lymphomas to immunoglobulin-producing tumours in two pigs

A porcine lymphoma-derived cell line co-expressing IgM, IgG and IgA

A cell line (PL38PB) was established from blood samples of a 6-month-old pig that was diagnosed with lymphoma with CD5 expression. Histopathological examination revealed neoplastic lesions in the spleen, liver and lymph nodes. Tumor cells were immunohistochemically positive for CD20 and immunoglobulin heavy chains (μ, γ and α). Membranous CD5 and cytoplasmic Immunoglobulin M (IgM), ​Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and ​Immunoglobulin A (IgA) were detected in PL38PB cells by flow cytometry. In addition, the cytoplasm of PL38PB cells were positive for IgM, IgG and IgA by immunofluorescent. However, no Ig secretion was detected in culture supernatant by Ouchterlony gel diffusion method. Results suggest that PL38PB cells express three Ig isotypes that are produced but not secreted.

Canine Indolent Nodular Lymphoma

Sixty-six cases of indolent canine lymphoid proliferation were reviewed. Age ranged from 1.5 to 16 years (median 9.0 years). Dogs of 26 breeds, plus 13 of mixed breeding or unknown lineage, were represented. B-Cell lymphomas (CD79a+) predominated. Marginal zone lymphoma (MZL), the largest group, involved lymph node (33 cases) and spleen (13 cases), with both tissues involved in five of these cases. Follicular lymphoma (FL) involved lymph nodes (five cases), and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) occurred as solitary splenic masses (three cases). Nodal CD3+ T-zone lymphomas (TZL) (10 cases), were included since they resembled late-stage MZL at the architectural level. Two cases of marginal zone hyperplasia (MZH) were included to aid in differentiation of early MZL. Clonality status was determined in 54 cases by analysis of immunoglobulin heavy chain (IGH) and T-cell antigen receptor gamma (TCRG) gene rearrangement. Clonal rearrangement of IGH was detected in 28 of 35 MZL cases (80%), four of four FL cases (100%) and three of three MCL cases (100%). Concurrent cross lineage rearrangement of TCRG was detected in six MZL and two FL cases. Clonal rearrangement of TCRG was documented in five of eight TZL cases (63%). Limited survival data obtained for 18 dogs indicated that the B-cell lymphomas (MZL, MCL, and FL) and the T-cell lymphoma (TZL) were associated with indolent behavior and long survival. Although to the authors' knowledge, the true incidence of canine indolent lymphomas is unknown, the tumors are not rare and may have been underrecognized. Recognition of their architectural features, routine application of immunophenotyping, and molecular clonality assessment should alleviate this.

Signet ring cell lymphoma with plasmacytic differentiation in a pig

A case of signet ring cell lymphoma in a 3-year-old mixed-breed sow is described. Macroscopical examination revealed enlargement of superficial, thoracic and abdominal lymph nodes and multiple tumor masses in the liver. The neoplastic tissue was composed of follicle center-like structures, in which neoplastic cells with Russell bodies were conspicuous. The bodies were immunostained for IgM (κ), and corresponded to moderately dense amorphous material within markedly distended cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) at the ultrastructural level. In contrast to typical signet ring cell lymphoma, the component cells of which resemble follicular center B lymphocytes with poorly developed RER, most neoplastic cells had features of plasma cells characterized by a cartwheel arrangement of heterochromatin and development of RER. Signet ring cells frequently had one or a few large Russell bodies occupying the entire cytoplasm, which may have been caused by abundant synthesis and defective secretion of immunoglobulin.

Natural killer-like T-cell lymphoma in a calf

A case of natural killer (NK)-like T-cell lymphoma in a 9-month-old female Holstein calf is described. The liver, spleen and lymph nodes were affected with lymphoma. The neoplastic cells showed not only epitheliotropism in the biliary epithelium and hepatic cords but also preferential homing to follicular centres of the lymph nodes. In the cytoplasm, there were eosinophilic granules of various sizes, which were positive with phosphotungstic acid haematoxylin and naphthol AS-D chloroacetate esterase. Erythrophagia by lymphoma cells was rarely detected. Immunohistochemically, the neoplastic cells expressed surface CD3, surface CD5 and CD57, and perforin expression was present in the cytoplasmic granules. The lymphoma described resembled feline NK-like T-cell lymphoma in epitheliotropism in the liver and phagocytic activity but differed in respect of follicular involvement and marked variation in granule size.

Plasma cell myeloma producing IgG, IgM, and IgA immunoglobulins in a cow

A diagnosis of plasma cell myeloma was made in a 6-year-old Holstein cow that showed continuous nosebleed, progressing emaciation, and hyperglobulinemia. Necropsy revealed enlargement of the caudal mesenteric lymph nodes. Lymph nodes and spleen were infiltrated by neoplastic plasma cells. Renal lymph nodes, bone marrow, and kidneys also were affected. Amyloid-like material that was negative for Congo red was present in most of the affected lymph nodes. Congo red-positive amyloid material was noted in spleen, kidneys, liver, and adrenal glands. Neoplastic plasma cells exhibited immunohistochemical reactions for lambda-light chain and 3 classes of heavy chain but not for kappa-light chain. Nonamyloid deposits were labeled with antisera against lambda-light chain and heavy chains. Plasmacytoid cells, which stained positively for IgG, IgM, or IgA, were intermingled in all lesions. Production of 3 types of immunoglobulins may be caused by heavy-chain class switching, constantly occurring in certain proportions.

T-cell-rich B-cell lymphoma in a pig

A case of multicentric lymphoma with a mixed cell population of large to small round cells with the same nuclear features in a pig was studied immunohistochemically. Neoplastic tissues were composed of 20-50% B-cell lymphoma cells with lambda-type light chain restriction, and 50-80% cluster of differentiation (CD)3+ T-cells. These findings were similar to those of human T-cell-rich B-cell lymphoma (TCRBCL). In addition, both immunoglobulin IgM and IgG were detected in the cytoplasm of the identical lymphoma cell. This pattern of heavy chain expression appeared to be due to maturational arrest in cellular development at the point of heavy chain class switching, as occurs in biclonal gammopathy in human lymphoid malignancy. This case as TCRBCL containing two types of heavy chains with light chain restriction (IgM-lambda and IgG-lambda) appears to be the first of its kind reported in the English literature for either pigs or domestic animals.

Histocompatible miniature, boar model: selection of transformed cell lines of B and T lineages producing retrovirus

A lymphoblastoid cell line (B1) was isolated in culture following a brief exposure to 5-azacytidine from peripheral-blood mononuclear cells of a boar previously injected with cells (Shimozuma) producing porcine retrovirus (Tsukuba-1) and suffering a severe non-neoplastic syndrome at autopsy. B1 cell line and 5 of its sublines were propagated for more than 100 generations, retaining doubling times comprised between 16.8 and 27.5 hr and growing readily in agarose or agar (plating efficiency: 5 to 50%). Karyotype analyses showed that 4 sublines were nearly diploid, except for cells of L14, which displayed a monosomy affecting chromosome 18 pair. Two sublines (L35 and L45) were considered as being of T-cell lineage, since MSA, antigen was observed on the surface of approximately 30% of cells. Three sublines (L23, L14 and L52) were considered of B-cell lineage, since membrane immunoglobulins were observed on the cell surface. In addition, sublines L23 and L52 were actively secreting immunoglobulin of mu isotype. Retrovirus particles were evidenced in gradient-purified preparation of 200-fold-concentrated cell culture supernatants of the B1 cell line, L14, L35 and L52 sublines, using both a reverse transcriptase activity assay and electron microscopic observation. These cell lines can be used to select for porcine retrovirus variants with transforming potential for lymphocytes of B and T lineages.

Malignant lymphomas of thymus origin in two sows

Two cases of swine thymic lymphoma were investigated by electron microscopy and the immunoperoxidase method for terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT), and furthermore sheep erythrocyte rosette assay was applied to one case. In case 1, immunoblastoid cells predominated and smaller cells were admixed with them. Many neoplastic cells were TdT-positive and formed rosettes with sheep erythrocytes at 4 degrees C, but about half of them formed rosettes at 37 degrees C. Ultrastructurally the neoplastic cells were characterized by highly irregular nuclei, poorly developed organelles and clustered dense bodies. The neoplasm in case 2 was composed of medium-sized to large cells and the latter predominated. A few of the neoplastic cells stained positively with anti-TdT serum. Ultrastructurally the neoplastic cells were characterized by nuclear convolution, narrow cytoplasmic bands and clustered dense bodies. The morphological features of thymic lymphomas were discussed in comparison with those of other swine lymphomas and lymphomas of other animals. Histological and immunological progression into T-immunoblastoid cells in case 1 was also discussed.

Non-T, non-B lymphoblastic lymphoma in two pigs

The histological, immunological and ultrastructural observations on two cases of non-T, non-B lymphoblastic lymphoma are reported. Although the neoplastic cells had neither sheep erythrocyte (E) receptors for T lymphocytes nor surface membrane immunoglobulin (SIg) for B lymphocytes, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) was demonstrated in the nuclei of many or some neoplastic cells. Ultrastructurally the neoplastic cells showed no specific features except desmosome-like junctions. The morphological and immunological findings suggest that the present cases are derived from immature lymphoid cells or stem cells of the bone marrow. The significance of the junctions is discussed and such structures may be common in various mesenchymal cells.

Malignant lymphomas of follicular centre cell origin in 14 pigs

Malignant lymphomas of follicular centre cell (FCC) origin in 14 pigs are described. Seven cases were classified as abdominal type according to the distribution of the neoplastic lesions and the residual cases were of the general type. Most cases were composed of mixed populations of large and medium-sized neoplastic cells and the growing pattern varied from partially follicular to diffuse. The neoplastic cells often showed necrosis, to which macrophages reacted. A part of the neoplastic cells had cytoplasmic immunoglobulin M (CIgM) or cytoplasmic immunoglobulin G (CIgG). The histological features of swine FCC lymphomas are discussed.