The distribution of the c-myc oncogene product in malignant lymphomas and various normal tissues as demonstrated by immunocytochemistry

Abstract

The expression of c-myc was studied in 51 malignant lymphomas and in a variety of normal tissues by immunocytochemistry using monoclonal antibodies raised to different synthetic peptides and reacting monospecifically with the c-myc product (p62c-myc). The c-myc product was detected in only a minority of malignant lymphomas principally those containing cells with immunoblastic characteristics, and was predominantly localised to the cytoplasm. In normal lymphoid tissues only plasma cells and histiocytes were found to have immunoreactivity. In non-lymphoid normal tissues, however, the c-myc product was distributed widely. Marked differences in its intracellular distribution were apparent in different tissues. These findings suggest that the relationship of p62c-myc expression to cell division may be more complex than previously suggested by in vitro studies, and raise the possibility that it may have other functions within the cell.