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Thymic hyperplasia

II. Lymphofollicular hyperplasia of the thymus. An immunohistologic study

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Summary

The so-called lymphofollicular hyperplasia, which is caused by the occurrence of hyperplastic lymph follicles within the organ, is constantly associated with autoimmune diseases (e.g., myasthenia gravis) and in rare instances with malignant tumors. The architecture of lymphofollicular hyperplasia was studied immunohistochemically using antibodies against epithelial, vascular, lymphocytic, and histiocytic antigens. There is evidence, that the configuration, microtopography, cellular composition, and immunohistological findings of the lymph follicles with germinal centers in the myasthenic thymus are essentially the same as in those occurring in lymph nodes and in other lymphatic tissue. Furthermore it could be shown that the follicles originate in the interlobular septal space and displace the thymic parenchyma by extension.

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Abbreviations

AEC:

3-amino-9-ethylcarbazole

C3bR:

receptor for C3b

DMF:

n,n-dimethylformamide

DRC:

dendritic reticulum cells

IDC:

interdigitating reticulum cells

PBS:

phosphate buffered solution

PC:

plasma cells

CBCC:

centrocyts and centroblasts

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Allgemeine Pathologie und pathologische Anatomie der Universität Heidelberg, Germany

    W. J. Hofmann, P. Möller & H. F. Otto

Authors
  1. W. J. Hofmann
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  2. P. Möller
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  3. H. F. Otto
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Additional information

Dedicated to Prof. Dr. Gerhard Seifert, in honor of his 65th birthday, September 9, 1986

This work was supported by the Land Baden-Württemberg (Forschungsschwerpunkt 17.9)

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Hofmann, W.J., Möller, P. & Otto, H.F. Thymic hyperplasia. Klin Wochenschr 65, 53–60 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01745473

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