Immunohistochemical expression pattern of T-cell transcription factors (TFs) in thymus, reactive lymphoid tissues and progressively transformed germinal centres (PTGC)
| Tissue | T-bet | GATA3 | c-Maf | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Positive cells | Intensity | % Positive cells | Intensity | % Positive cells | Intensity | |
| Thymus | ||||||
| Cortex | 1–2 | ++ | 50–75 | +++ | 1–5 | +++ |
| Medulla | 1–3 | ++ | 10–25 | ++ | 5–10 | ++ |
| Reactive lymphoid tissue | ||||||
| GCs | − | − | 1–5 | ++ | 5–10 | +++† |
| Mantle zone | <1 | ++ | 1–5 | + | 1–2 | + |
| Extrafollicular compartment | 3–5 | ++ ‡ | 5–10 | +++ | 3–5 | +++ |
| PTGC* | ||||||
| Transformed GCs | <1 | ++ | 1–5 | ++ | 10–25 | +++ |
| Expanded mantle zone | 1–2 | +++ | 1–5 | ++ | 2–3 | ++§ |
| Extrafollicular compartment | 3–5 | ++ | 5–10 | +++ | 3–5 | ++ |
GC, germinal centre.
−, negative; +, weakly positive; ++, moderately positive; +++, strongly positive.
*PTGC findings denote the findings observed in transformed follicles of PTGC cases. Reactive follicles and paracortical areas surrounding the transformed follicles had the same staining pattern as reactive/normal lymphoid tissues.
†c-Maf expression in GC was detected mainly in light zone of GCs. Some of the GC macrophages showed moderate expression of c-Maf.
‡Strongly T-bet+ cells were noted, especially in perivascular areas of sinusoids and marginal sinus of the reactive/normal lymph nodes.
§c-Maf+ cells were observed as collarettes or single cells.