PMID: 2495808Jan 1, 1989Paper

Immunocytochemical profile of Kaposi's sarcoma cells: their reactivity to a panel of antibodies directed against different tissue cell markers

Applied Pathology
G MassarelliA Cossu

Abstract

Thirty-three cases of European Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) were investigated by immunohistochemical methods using a panel of antibodies specific for the markers of the cell types proposed for its histogenesis in the literature: S-100 protein for Schwann cells; lysozyme for histiocytes; alpha-actin, desmin and vimentin for pericytes and other mesenchyme-derived cells; factor VIIIR:Ag and Ulex europaeus agglutinin-I for endothelial cells. Antifibronectin antibodies were also used in order to investigate some functional activities of the proliferating cells. Immunohistochemical results showed that KS cells were diffusely positive for vimentin and alpha-actin and negative for all other cell markers. Furthermore, KS cells were constantly surrounded by fibronectin-positive material. Since the KS cells are diffusely positive for vimentin, they may be considered a monotypic proliferation of mesenchyme-derived cells which lack the markers of full endothelial cell differentiation; however, the occurrence of fibronectin-positive material around them suggests that these cells are actively proliferating endothelial cells and their diffuse positivity for alpha-actin suggests a possible differentiation to pericytic cells. In conclusion KS cells may...Continue Reading

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Bacterial Cell Wall Structure

Bacterial cell walls are made of peptidoglycan (also called murein), which is made from polysaccharide chains cross-linked by unusual peptides containing D-amino acids. Here is the latest research on bacterial cell wall structures.

Bacterial Cell Wall Structure (ASM)

Bacterial cell walls are made of peptidoglycan (also called murein), which is made from polysaccharide chains cross-linked by unusual peptides containing D-amino acids. Here is the latest research on bacterial cell wall structures.

Blood Brain Barrier

The blood brain barrier is a border that separates blood from cerebrospinal fluid. Discover the latest search on this highly selective semipermeable membrane here.