Distinct global DNA methylation status in B-cell lymphomas: immunohistochemical study of 5-methylcytosine and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine

Lymphomas are malignant neoplasms composed of lymphoid cells at various developmental stages and lineages. Recent advances in comprehensive genomic analyses in acute myeloid leukemia have revealed prevalent mutations in regulators of epigenetic phenomena including global DNA methylation status. The examples include mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1), IDH2, and ten-eleven translocation 2. These mutations are proposed to inhibit conversion of 5-methylcytosine (5 mC) to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5 hmC), leading to global accumulation of 5 mC. These changes in global DNA methylation status can be visualized immunohistochemically using specific Antibodies against 5 mC and 5 hmC. We examined the global DNA methylation status of B-cell lymphomas and that of their normal counterparts by immunohistochemistry for 5 mC and 5 hmC. Non-tumor lymphoid cells inside germinal centers (GC) in reactive lymphoid hyperplasia (RLH) were stained positive for 5 mC, but they were negative for 5 hmC. Similarly, follicular lymphomas, whose postulated normal counterparts are centrocytes in GCs, were 5 mC-positive but 5 hmC-negative by immunohistochemistry. This immunostaining pattern was also observed in Burkitt lymphoma. In contrast, non-tumor lymphoid cells in mantle zones were stained positive for 5 mC as well as for 5 hmC. Likewise, most mantle cell lymphomas, whose postulated normal counterparts are mantle zone B cells in RLH, were stained positive for 5 mC as well as for 5 hmC. This immunostaining pattern was also observed in chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma. These results suggest that, in terms of 5 mC/5 hmC immunohistochemistry, B-cell lymphomas with different histological subtypes are associated with distinct global DNA methylation statuses that resemble those of their postulated normal counterparts.