CD Markers
CD27

Editorial Board Member: Patricia Tsang, M.D., M.B.A.
Deputy Editor-in-Chief: Genevieve M. Crane, M.D., Ph.D.
Frido Bruehl, M.D.
Christian M. Schürch, M.D., Ph.D.

Last author update: 28 February 2023
Last staff update: 28 February 2023

Copyright: 2003-2024, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.

PubMed Search: CD27 pathology

Frido Bruehl, M.D.
Christian M. Schürch, M.D., Ph.D.
Cite this page: Bruehl F, Schürch CM. CD27. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/cdmarkerscd27.html. Accessed December 25th, 2024.
Definition / general
  • Tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNF) family member expressed on T and B cells
Essential features
  • CD27 is a costimulatory receptor of the TNF receptor superfamily expressed on lymphocytes
  • CD27 is triggered by its unique ligand CD70, which is expressed on immune cells and often in cancers
  • Soluble CD27 can be measured in serum and is an indicator of the CD70 - CD27 interaction in vivo
  • CD27 deficiency should be considered in patients with immunodeficiencies
  • CD27 staining in flow cytometry can help detect immunodeficiencies
Terminology
  • Also known as tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 7 (TNFRSF7)
Pathophysiology
Diagrams / tables

Contributed by Frido Bruehl, M.D.
CD27 flow cytometry for detection of abnormal plasma cells

Flow cytometry detects abnormal plasma cells

Function of the CD27 - CD70 axis

Clinical features
Interpretation
  • Membranous staining
Uses by pathologists
  • CD27 dim expression detected by flow cytometry is a marker of atypical plasma cells (see Diagrams / tables) (Br J Haematol 2022;196:1175)
  • B cell phenotyping for evaluation of immunodeficiency syndromes and immune competence analysis by flow cytometry
  • T cell phenotyping for evaluation of immunodeficiency syndromes and immune competence analysis by flow cytometry
Prognostic factors
  • Solid tumors
    • CD27 positive tumor infiltrating lymphocytes predict inferior survival in renal cell carcinoma (Clin Cancer Res 2015;21:889)
    • CD27 negative tumor infiltrating lymphocytes are associated with an improved survival in high grade serous ovarian carcinoma (Clin Cancer Res 2012;18:3281)
    • CD27 negative tumor infiltrating lymphocytes are associated with an improved survival in hepatocellular carcinoma (Clin Cancer Res 2013;19:5994)
  • Hematolymphoid neoplasms
Microscopic (histologic) images

Contributed by Christian Schürch, M.D., Ph.D.
Immunohistochemical double staining (CD27 and CD34)

Immunohistochemical
double staining
(CD27 and CD34)

Positive staining - normal
Positive staining - disease
Negative staining
Flow cytometry images

Contributed by Frido Bruehl, M.D. and Betty Gay, B.S.
Flow cytometry of CVID patient Flow cytometry of CVID patient

Flow cytometry of CVID patient

Molecular / cytogenetics description
Sample pathology report
  • Peripheral blood, flow cytometry, quantitative B cell phenotyping analysis:
    • Abnormal (see comment)
    • Comment: A decrease of class switched memory B cells (CD19 positive, CD27 positive, IgM negative, IgD negative) is consistent with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID). Switched memory B cells are quantitatively decreased in relation to marginal zone B cells (CD19 positive, CD27 positive, IgM positive, IgD negative). This result is consistent with but not diagnostic of CVID. Quantitative B cell phenotyping is helpful for the classification and prognosis of CVID and should be considered in the context of clinical and other immunological and laboratory findings. Decreased class switched memory B cells may also be seen in some autoimmune diseases, secondary to certain medications and in patients with other hereditary syndromes.
Board review style question #1

Which statement about CD27 is true?

  1. CD27 is constitutively expressed in nonlymphoid tissues
  2. CD27 is not expressed on myeloid precursor cells
  3. CD27 shows nuclear expression
  4. CD70, the ligand of CD27, is often overexpressed in cancer
  5. There are no current clinical uses of CD27
Board review style answer #1
D. CD70, the ligand of CD27, is often overexpressed in cancer. CD70 is overexpressed in many cancers and the CD27 / CD70 immune axis is utilized by cancers to escape immune surveillance (Oncoimmunology 2012;1:1604). The expression of CD27 in lymphoid and myeloid progenitor cells is tightly controlled. The expression pattern of CD27 is predominantly membranous. Clinical uses include immunophenotypic evaluation of plasma cell neoplasms and analysis of lymphocytes in patients with immunodeficiency syndromes.

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