Pathology Outlines

CD Markers
CD25

Topic Completed: 1 July 2013

Revised: 8 August 2019

Revised: 13 December 2018, last major update July 2013

Copyright: (c) 2002-2018, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.

PubMed Search: CD25[TI] review[ptyp]

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Table of Contents

Cite this page: Pernick N. CD25. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/cdmarkerscd25.html. Accessed April 1st, 2020.

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:
1. Suppress the activation of self-reactive T cells and prevent autoimmunity (diagram)
2. 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)

Diagrams / tables

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Development of CD4+ CD25+ T cells

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

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HTLV1+ adult T cell leukemia / lymphoma

Mastocytosis

Hodgkin lymphoma

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)

Flow cytometry images

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Hairy cell leukemia variant is CD103+ but CD25-