title: Kaposi's sarcoma in AIDS: basement membrane and endothelial cell markers in late-stage lesions.
abstract: Early-stage lesions of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) are composed of single-layered, highly flattened cells lining collagen bundles, whereas late-stage lesions contain densely packed, spindle-shaped cells. We examined the progression of KS lesions in oral mucosa and lymph nodes from patients with AIDS, using antibodies specific for blood vascular endothelial cells (Factor VIII-related antigen) and their basement membrane (Type IV collagen and laminin). In addition, the plant lectin Ulex europaeus, which selectively stains blood vessels, was also used. In early-stage KS lesions, fibronectin, laminin and Type IV collagen were co-distributed at the interface between KS cells and collagen bundles; Factor VIII-related antigen and Ulex europaeus lectin staining was present in vascular channels and in the KS cells. However, in late-stage lesions, few if any KS cells stained with antibody to Factor VIII-associated antigen, although endothelial cells lining blood vessels were positive. Strong staining for laminin and Type IV collagen was present in a pericellular pattern throughout the nodular late-stage lesions. Since lymphatic capillary endothelium does not produce basement-membrane-specific macromolecules, these results support the conclusion that KS cells are related to blood vascular endothelium but eventually lose certain endothelium-specific markers as the cells are transformed into the spindle-shaped cell type.
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology, School of Dentistry, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0424.
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Daniels
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Greenspan
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Kramer
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D004727:Endothelium / Q000473:pathology; D005887:Gingival Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000473:pathology*; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D010157:Palatal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology