CD43

Synonyms: Leukosialin, Sialophorin

by Jan Klos

Background

The antigen is a main transmembrane sialoprotein on human T lymphocytes, monocytes, histiocytes, granulocytes and their malignant proliferations as well as on some neoplastic B lymphocytes. It is not expressed by normal, mature B-lymphocytes, but some B-lymphocytes may be positive in reactive conditions and infectious mononucleosis. Defects in the CD43 molecule are associated with the development of Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome.

Staining in tumors

More than 90% of T-cell lymphoma (including ALCL), mantle cell lymphoma, B-cell small lymphocytic lymphoma, and Burkitt lymphoma cases are positive. Between 20% to 40% of nodal and extranodal marginal zone lymphoma (MZL), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, Burkitt-like B-cell lymphoma, and lymphoplasmacytoid lymphoma cases are also positive. Only 0% to 6% of primary splenic MZL and follicular lymphoma (mostly of large cell type) are positive.

Staining pattern

Staining pattern is predominantly membranous.

Control tissue

Tonsil – positive staining of all T-lymphocytes and histiocytes is required.

Application

  • As a wide spectrum marker of T-cells, myeloid, monocytoid and histiocytic proliferations including myeloid sarcoma as well as some neoplastic proliferations of B-cell origin.
  • Confirmation of hematolymphoid lineage in cases of negative CD45 staining.
  • Nuclear but no membranous expression is seen in some adenocarcinomas.
  • Positive membranous staining in a subset of CD20+ B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and it seems to be a highly sensitive marker for these tumors.
  • CD43 may be also useful in classifying B-cell NHLs by the virtue of its differential expression.

Selected references

  1. Batdorf B.H.1, Kroft S.H.1, Hosking P.R.1 , et al. Evaluation of CD43 expression in non-hematopoietic malignancies. Ann Diagn Pathol. 2017 Aug;29:23-27. doi. 10.1016/j.anndiagpath. 2017.04.010. Epub 2017 Apr 26. 
  2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CD43 
  3. Lai R1, Weiss L M, Chang K L, et al. Frequency of CD43 expression in non-Hodgkin lymphoma. A survey of 742 cases and further characterization of rare CD43+ follicular lymphomas. Am J Clin pathol 1999 Apr; 111(4):488-94.  doi: 10.1093/ajcp/111.4.488. PMID: 10191768, DOI: 10.1093/ajcp/111.4.488