Indolent primary cutaneous B-cell lymphomas resemble persistent antigen reactions without signs of dedifferentiation
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Primary cutaneous B-cell lymphoma encompass clinically heterogeneous entities. While primary cutaneous diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, leg type (pcDLBCL-LT) is aggressive, primary cutaneous follicle centre lymphoma (pcFCL) and primary cutaneous marginal zone lymphoma (pcMZL) typically follow an indolent course. To clarify their pathophysiological basis, we perform single-cell RNA sequencing on pcFCL, pcMZL, and pcDLBCL-LT, alongside reactive B-cell rich lymphoid proliferations (rB-LP), gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma, and systemic counterparts. Here we show that the indolent pcMZL, pcFCL, and rB-LP exhibit a persistent germinal centre reaction, not observed in pcDLBCL-LT or gastric MALT lymphoma. Further, pcMZL top expanded clones develop within lesions from naïve and not post-germinal centre B cells as currently presumed. Our data thus indicate that pcMZL and pcFCL, similar to rB-LP may be driven by (a yet unknown) antigen. While our data indicates that pcFCL exhibits some features of true lymphomas, it clearly supports the classification of pcMZL as a lymphoproliferative disease.
Source: Nature Communications
Authors: Johannes Griss, Sabina Gansberger, Inigo Oyarzun, Martin Simon, Mathias C. Drach, Vy Nguyen, Lisa E. Shaw, Ulrike Mann, Stefanie Porkert, Matthias Farlik, Wolfgang Weninger, Werner Dolak, Bertram Aschenbrenner, Beate M. Lichtenberger, Shawn Ziegler-Santos, Christine Wagner, Ingrid Simonitsch-Klupp, Stephan N. Wagner, Constanze Jonak, Patrick M. Brunner
Language: English
Subfield: Dermatology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $6,990
Funder: Austrian Science Fund
OpenAlex ID: W7127635086