Analysis of Survivin Expression in the Subtypes of Lymphoma

• DOI: 10.1007/s10330-004-0351-8
• Publication Date: 2005-08-26T03:43:39Z
• Authors: Xia GU; Hanliang LIN; Jianyong SHAO; Men ZHANG; Huizhen LIANG
• Keywords: Survivin; BCL10; Follicular lymphoma

Objective: To detect the expression of survivin in subtypes of lymphoma and its value in classifying subtypes of lymphoma. Methods: Paraffin-embedded samples collected from 219 cases of lymphoma and 13 cases of lymph node reactive proliferation from affiliated hospitals of Sun Yat-sen University during 2001-2003 were examined for the expression of survivin by using immunohistochemical staining. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the mRNA expression of survivin in K562, HL60, Raji, and Jurkat cell lines. Semi-quantitative assay was used to evaluate the quantity of survivin protein and mRNA expression in subtypes of lymphoma. Results: Protein expression of survivin was high and strong in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBL) (88.6%, 70/79), Burkitt lymphoma (BL) (100%, 2/2), and lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL) (92.3%, 12/13), while their expression was always lower and weaker in follicular lymphoma (FL) (18.2%), extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of mucosaassociated lymphoid tissue (MALT lymphoma) (40.9%) and marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) (33.3%). There was a significant difference between the higher expression group (DLBL, BL and LBL) and lower one (FL, MZL, and MALT) in the expression of survivin (Chi-square test, χ2=24.77, P<0.01). Almost all of Reed-Sternberg cells (R-S cells) in Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) strongly expressed survivin. The protein expression of survivin was positively correlated with mRNA (r=0.6270, P<0.01). Conclusion: The expression level of survivin mRNA and protein shows significant difference in subtypes of lymphoma. The expression of survivin mRNA might act as a biomarker to classify the subtypes of lymphoma.