'A novel approach for characterisation of KSHV‐associated multicentric Castleman disease from effusions': Response.

As we have previously discussed,[[2]] the term "plasmablasts" has been widely used in the literature to describe the KSHV-infected B-lineage cells in the lymph nodes of KSHV-MCD, although it may be debatable whether these cells truly represent plasmablasts. Abbreviations DLBCL diffuse large B-cell lymphoma FITC fluorescein isothiocyanate FMO Fluorescence Minus One FSC forward scatter H&E haematoxylin and eosin HHV8 human herpesvirus 8 Ig immunoglobulin KSHV Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus LANA-1 latency associated nuclear antigen-1 LRP lambda-restricted plasmablastic population MCD multicentric Castleman disease PEL primary effusion lymphoma SSC side scatter We appreciate the insightful comments by Vanjak et al. regarding our recent publication 'A novel approach for characterization of KSHV-associated multicentric Castleman disease from effusions'.[1] In our report, we used a broad definition of "plasmablasts" to describe the Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV)-infected, lambda-restricted B-lineage cells in KSHV-associated multicentric Castleman disease (KSHV-MCD), referred to as the lambda-restricted plasmablastic population (LRP) in the publication. The normal B cells were negative for LANA-1 and served as an internal negative control. gl Vanjak et al. raised an important point regarding the specificity of the flow cytometry-based analysis in differentiating between KSHV-MCD and other KSHV-associated lymphoproliferations, including PEL and KSHV/human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8)-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (KSHV/HHV8 SP + sp DLBCL). [Extracted from the article]