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Expression of the fibroblast/macrophage marker 1B10 by spindle cells in Kaposi's sarcoma lesions and by Kaposi's sarcoma‐derived tumor cells
Author(s) -
Degraef Chantale,
Heenen Michel,
Hermans Philippe,
Van Vooren JeanPaul,
Noel JeanChristophe
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of cutaneous pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.597
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1600-0560
pISSN - 0303-6987
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0560.2002.290202.x
Subject(s) - pathology , sarcoma , biology , fibroblast , immunohistochemistry , mesenchymal stem cell , kaposi's sarcoma , cell , macrophage , cell culture , in vitro , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , medicine , human herpesvirus , genetics , biochemistry
Background: Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is a tumor whose ontogenic origin remains a matter of contention. KS tissues are characterized by predominant expression of endothelial markers, while KS‐derived cell cultures are usually characterized by expression of mesenchymal non‐endothelial cell markers. Aims: In order to clarify the ontogenic origin of KS cells, we investigated the expression of the fibroblast/macrophage marker 1B10 in KS tissues (AIDS‐associated KS, n = 9; classic KS, n = 6; iatrogenic KS, n = 6) and in KS‐derived cell cultures. Results: 1B10 was expressed by loosely distributed spindle‐shaped cells in early ‘patch‐stage’ KS and by a variable proportion of spindle cells in late ‘plaque‐ and nodular‐stage’ KS. Using immunohistochemistry and immunoblot analysis, we found that, in vitro , reactivity for 1B10 was uniformly evidenced in fibroblasts and in KS‐derived spindle cell cultures, irrespective of their histological or epidemiological setting. By contrast, vascular smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells were negative for 1B10. Conclusions: These results suggest that the KS spindle cells isolated in vitro may represent a particular subpopulation of the KS spindle cell compartment.