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Intracellular branched tubular structures in osteosarcoma. An ultrastructural and serological study
Author(s) -
Jenson A. Bennett,
Spjut Harlan J.,
Smith Marilyn N.,
Rapp Fred
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(197106)27:6<1440::aid-cncr2820270626>3.0.co;2-x
Subject(s) - ultrastructure , measles virus , endoplasmic reticulum , antibody , virus , osteosarcoma , virology , medicine , pathology , biology , measles , immunology , microbiology and biotechnology , vaccination
Intracytoplasmic tubular structures, approximately 23 mμ, in diameter, were seen by electron microscopy within endothelial cells, malignant osteoblasts, and lymphocytes of an osteosarcoma. Although similar tubular structures have been seen in many different cells in vivo and in vitro, their presence within endothelial cells of glomeruli in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus prompted the suggestion that they represent measles virus nucleocapsids. Although the morphogenesis of these tubules remains obscure, we have presented evidence that these tubules may form by condensation of intracisternal granular material secreted by the endoplasmic reticulum and probably represent response of the cell to injury by providing it with more structural stability. Measles antibody titers were performed on the sera of the patient and his immediate family, because similar tubules had been equated with measles virus nucleocapsids. Because these antibody titers were all markedly elevated, a comparative ultrastructural study was undertaken between the tubules reported herein and measles virus nucleocapsids. Although the ultrastructural features were superficially similar, their morphology and morphogenesis were different. Thus, we concluded that such tubular structures could not be equated with measles virus nucleocapsids. Several possible reasons for the high measles antibody titer in the sera of the patient and his immediate family are discussed.