CD57 (Leu7)

This myelin-associated glycoprotein is present on Schwann cells.

Antibodies are effective on paraffin-embedded tissue3. Leu7 is the prototypic anti-CD57, also designated HNK-1.

Immunohistochemical expression

• 10-20% of lymphocytes

• NK cells

• oligodendrocytes

• Schwann cells

• gastric chief cells

• chromaffin cells of the gut

• pancreatic islets

• renal proximal tubules and loop of Henle

• prostatic epithelium

• adrenal medulla

• epithelial cells of the outer thymic cortex

• some cells of the fetal bronchus

• not monocytes, granulocytes, platelets or erythrocytes

• see comparison of neuroendocrine markers

• 50% of pulmonary small cell carcinomas

• 85% of bronchial carcinoids

• non small cell carcinomas of the lung with neuroendocrine differentiation

• >50% of mesotheliomas

• most carcinomas of the thyroid, especially papillary carcinomas

• 30% of benign thyroid proliferations

• rarely in medullary carcinoma of the thyroid

• prostatic carcinomas

• epithelial cells of thymomas

• some thymic carcinomas

• nerve sheath tumours:

  • neuromas

  • neurofibromas

  • Schwannomas

  • most malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumours

• oligodendrogliomas

• astrocytomas

• glioblastomas

• synovial sarcomas2

• leiomyosarcomas2

• small round cell tumours:

  • neuroblastomas

  • PNETs and Ewing's sarcoma2

• variably in melanomas

• conflicting results in Merkel cell tumours

• many granular cell tumours

• paragangliomas

• phaeochromocytomas

• most embryonal carcinomas

• most dysgerminomas

• some plasmacytomas /myelomas

• large granular lymphocyte leukaemia

Diagnostic utility

• as part of a panel for the identification of neuroendocrine cells and neural cells

• for the differentiation of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumours from MFH and fibrosarcoma

• for the differentiation of myxoid nerve sheath tumours from other myxoid tumours

• bcl-6+, CD57+ T cell rosettes around bcl-6+ L&H cell of lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin's disease helps to distinguish LPHD from progressive transformation of germinal centres and lymphocyte rich classical Hodgkin's disease.1

References

1Kraus, M. D., Haley, J. Lymphocyte predominance Hodgkin's disease: the use of bcl-6 and CD57 in diagnosis and differential diagnosis. Am J Surg Pathol 2000;24:1068-78.

2Diagnostic Immunohistochemistry edited by Professor D. J. Dabbs, page 70

3Leong A S-Y, Cooper K and Leong FJ W-M. Manual of diagnostic antibodies for immunohistology. 2nd edition, 2003

This page last revised 21.12.2001.

©SMUHT/PW Bishop