This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Cooper, M. D. Articles by Good, R. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Cooper, M. D. Articles by Good, R. A.

Lymphoid Malignancy and Development, Differentiation, and Function of the Lymphoreticular System¹

Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota School of Medicine, Minneapolis, Minnesota

There are 2 pathways of normal lymphoid differentiation. The thymus is responsible for initiation and control of cellular differentiation directed toward the small lymphocyte and cellular immunity. The avian bursa of Fabricius, and perhaps Peyer's patches of man, initiates and controls another lymphoid differentiation pathway directed toward the plasma cell and immunoglobulin production. Thymus-dependent and bursa-dependent lymphocytic malignancies have been defined in the mouse and chicken, respectively, and are featured by abnormal lymphoid differentiation beginning in one or the other central lymphoid organ. It is proposed that clinical lymphoid malignancies may also be usefully classified as either thymus system or immunoglobulin-producing system malignancies. In this view Hodgkin's disease appears to be a thymus system disease, and more focused study of its central organ seems indicated.

¹ Aided by grants from the USPHS (HE-02085, AI-00798, NB-02042), the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, and the National Foundation.

² Postdoctoral Research Fellow, USPHS.

³ Established Investigator, American Heart Association.

⁴ Research Fellow, USPHS. Grant 9T1-AI292.

⁵ American Legion Memorial Heart Research Professor of Pediatrics and Microbiology.