CD43

DFT-1 and MT1 identify epitopes in formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded tissue².

Immunohistochemical expression

• normal T lymphocytes

• myeloid cells and macrophages

• plasma cells

• variable by megakaryocytes

• not normal or reactive B cells

• brain cells¹

  90% of T-cell lymphomas

• 30% of low-grade B cell lymphomas including:

  • all mantle cell lymphomas,

  • lymphoblastic lymphomas

  • some MALTomas

  • it does not stain hairy cell leukaemias or follicle centre cell lymphomas

• 69% of B cell ALL

• 97% of T cell ALL

• 44% of anaplastic large cell lymphomas

• all extramedullary myeloid tumours / granulocytic sarcomas

• some myelomas / plasmacytomas

Diagnostic utility

• Because non-neoplastic B cells are CD43 negative, positivity in B cells is evidence of neoplasia.

See: Comparison of sensitivities and specificities of T and B cell markers

References

¹M Steward et al. Production and characterization of a new monoclonal antibody effective in recognizing the CD3 T-cell associated antigen in formalin-fixed embedded tissue. Histopathology 1997;30:16-22.

²Leong A S-Y, Cooper K and Leong FJ W-M. Manual of diagnostic antibodies for immunohistology. 2nd edition, 2003

©SMUHT/PW Bishop