Clonal composition and differentiation stage of human CD30 + B cells in reactive lymph nodes.

We conclude that in human reactive lymph nodes with relatively many CD30 B cells, these cells are a heterogenous population of polyclonal B cells encompassing activated pre-GC B cells as well as GC and post-GC B cells, with some clonal expansions. Because of their polyclonality and frequent pre-GC differentiation stage, there is no indication that such cell-rich CD30 B-cell populations represent precursor lesions of Hodgkin lymphoma.