Reed-Sternberg cells in Hodgkin's disease contain fibronectin

Reed-Sternberg cells in the lymph nodes from five patients with Hodgkin's disease were studied. Indirect immunofluorescence on fixed sections with a monospecific anti-serum to fibronectin revealed abundant cytoplasmic fibronectin in approximately 90% of the Reed- Sternberg cells. In addition, the cells were shown by immunofluorescence to contain polyclonal IgG; however, factor VIII antigen, albumin, fibrinogen, alpha-2-macroglobulin, anti-thrombin III, and ceruloplasmin were not present. The abundant cytoplasmic fibronectin suggests that Reed-Sternberg cells are derived from tissue macrophages.