Characterization of the perivascular reticulin network in a case of primary brain lymphoma. Immunohistochemical demonstration of collagen types I, III, IV, and V; laminin; and fibronectin.

The character of the silver positive reticulin network was analyzed with immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase methods in an intra vitam diagnosed case of primary brain lymphoma. The network was shown to contain connective tissue proteins rich in hexose-sugars, such as type III collagen (classical "reticulin"), basal lamina constituents type IV collagen and laminin, pericellular type V collagen, as well as fibronectin (protein involved in cell adhesion). On the other hand, very little of the fibrous type I collagen was discernible. Similarly as the silver positive network, the immunohistochemically demonstrable reticulum seemed to hold the cells in the perivascular location, and once it was broken diffuse spread into the tissue occurred. Since malignant cells of B-lymphocyte origin are not known to synthesize so-called reticulin, it is suggested that the network in primary brain lymphomas is produced by cells in the brain parenchyma (possibly pericytes or astrocytes) as a protective attempt to restrict the spread of foreign cells into the brain.