Table of Contents
Definition / general | Terminology | Pathophysiology | Diagrams / tables | Clinical features | Uses by pathologists | Microscopic (histologic) images | Positive staining - normal | Positive staining - disease | Negative stainingCite this page: Pernick N. CD25. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/cdmarkerscd25.html. Accessed January 17th, 2021.
Definition / general
- Marker for hairy cell leukemia and systemic mastocytosis
Terminology
- Also called IL-2 receptor alpha chain, IL2RA and TAC antigen (OMIM 147730)
Pathophysiology
- Exists in at least 3 forms: a high affinity dimer, an intermediate affinity monomer (beta subunit), and a low affinity monomer (alpha subunit)
- Considered an activation antigen (also CD30)
- CD4+ CD25+ cells are regulatory T cells (Treg, Cancer Res 2012;72:2162) that:
- Suppress the activation of self-reactive T cells and prevent autoimmunity (diagram)
- May prevent cytotoxic T cells from killing tumor cells (J Hepatol 2006;45:254, Zhongguo Shi Yan Xue Ye Xue Za Zhi 2006;14:119)
- CD4+ CD25+ cells also suppress NK cells (Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2006;103;5460, J Immunol 2006;176:1582) and may act directly on B cells (Blood 2006;107:3925)
Clinical features
- High levels of Treg by flow cytometry are associated with advanced stage in esophageal and gastric cancer (Cancer Immunol Immunother 2006;55:1064, Oncol Lett 2012;4:755)
- CD25 expression in advanced cutaneous T cell lymphoma associated with response to denileukin diftitox therapy, a recombinant fusion protein of diphtheria toxin and IL-2, which binds to CD25 (J Invest Dermatol 2006;126:575, Leuk Lymphoma 2013;54:69)
Uses by pathologists
- Marker for hairy cell leukemia, but CD103 and CD123 may be more useful (Am J Clin Pathol 2011;136:625); loss of CD25 distinguishes hairy cell leukemia from variant hairy cell leukemia or other disorders (Am J Clin Pathol 2009;131:586)
- Diagnose systemic mastocytosis: see Mod Pathol 2012;25:516; also specific in GI mucosal mast cells (Am J Surg Pathol 2007;31:1669)
- CD25+ cutaneous mast cells in urticaria pigmentosa may predict subsequent systemic mastocytosis (Am J Surg Pathol 2008;32:139)
- Part of diagnostic criteria for hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis is soluble CD25/IL2 receptor >= 2,400 U/ml (Pediatr Blood Cancer 2007;48:124)
Microscopic (histologic) images
Positive staining - normal
- Activated B and T cells, macrophages, osteoblasts; some thymocytes, some myeloid precursors and some oligodendocytes; basophils have dim staining by flow cytometry (Arch Pathol Lab Med 2008;132:813)
Positive staining - disease
- Hairy cell leukemia (most, Am J Clin Path 2006;125:251)
- Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (Am J Clin Path 2003;119:205), most B cell neoplasms, adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma (Am J Clin Pathol 2010;133:592), Reed-Sternberg-like cells in peripheral T cell lymphoma (Am J Surg Pathol 2003;27:1513)
- Hodgkin lymphoma (most), some AML
- Systemic mastocytosis (Arch Pathol Lab Med 2012;136:832)
- Acquired ocular toxoplasmosis (Arq Bras Oftalmol 2010;73:443), idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis (Am J Surg Pathol 1993;17:482), neuroblastoma
Negative staining
- Non-neoplastic mast cells (Am J Clin Path 2004;122:560)
- Marginal zone B cell lymphoma (Am J Clin Path 1996;105:277)
- T cell large granular leukemia/lymphoma (Am J Surg Pathol 2005;29:935)
- Often/usually variant hairy cell leukemia (Am J Clin Path 2005;123:132)