Reed-Sternberg cells are distinctive giant cells found on light microscopy in biopsies from individuals with Hodgkin's lymphoma (aka Hodgkin's disease; a type of lymphoma), and certain other disorders. They are derived from B lymphocytes.

They are named after Dorothy Reed (1874-1964) and Carl Sternberg (1872-1935), who provided the first definitive microscopic descriptions of Hodgkin's disease (Reed, 1902; Sternberg, 1898).

Reed-Sternberg cells are large and are either multinucleated or have a bilobed nucleus (thus resembling an "owl's eye" appearance) with prominent eosinophilic inclusion-like nucleoli. Reed-Sternberg cells are CD30 and CD15 positive, usually negative for CD20 and CD45. The presence of these cells is necessary, but not sufficient, for the diagnosis of classical Hodgkin's lymphoma. They can also be found in reactive lymphadenopathy (such as infectious mononucleosis, carbamazepine associated lymphadenopathy) and rarely non-Hodgkin lymphomas.

Bauhinia purpurea

• a new paraffin section marker for Reed-Sternberg cells of Hodgkin's disease. PMID: 1352944

CD15 (Leu-M1)

• a Reed-Sternberg Cell Marker, expression of CD15 by Reed-Sternberg cells was associated with a greater granulocyte infiltrate. PMID: 1716042

CD30 (Ber-H2, Ki-1)

• Overexpression of CD30 is the hallmark of Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg (H-RS) cells. PMID: 12875982
• Primary and cultured Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg (H-RS) cells, regarded as the malignant components of Hodgkin's disease (HD), display high levels of the counter receptors CD30 and CD40. PMID: 8656679
• Ki-1 is a Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg cell associated antigen. PMID: 2820316, PMID: 3020097

CD74 (LN2)

• an antigen expressed by B cells, macrophages, and Reed-Sternberg cells. PMID: 9179057

Fascin

• a sensitive new marker for Reed-Sternberg cells of hodgkin's disease. PMID: 9033270