title: Immunocytochemical characterization of malignant schwannoma-derived cells in culture.
abstract: We recently demonstrated that cultured malignant schwannoma (MS)-derived cells can support human skin mast cell (HSMC) survival in vitro. Cultured HSMCs were spindleshaped in close contract with MS-derived cells, suggesting cell to cell interaction. To elucidate the mechanism of the enhanced HSMC survival in coculture with MS-derived cells and the cellular interactions between HSMC and MS-derived cells, we examined the immunocytochemical characteristics of MS-derived cells using immunofluorescence. Morphologically, cultured MS-derived cells were polygonal with abundant cytoplasm and resembled perineurial cells. The cultured cells immunoreacted positively with vimentin, fibronectin, laminin and collagen IV, but negatively with anti-S100 protein, anti-neuron specific enolase, and anti-neurofilament (68 kd, 145 kd, 200 kd) antibodies. MS-derived cells were distinct from Schwann cells in their lack of S100 protein and also distinguishable from endoneurial fibroblasts that produce fibronectin, but never expressed laminin or collagen IV. MS-derived cells thus possess the characteristics of perineurial cells in their general morphology and their immunocytochemical properties. Immunoreactivity for substance P (SP) and neurokinin A (NKA) was found in the cytoplasm of these cells, particularly around the nuclei. Vasoactive intestinal peptide, somatostatin, and calcitonin gene related peptide were negative. From these findings, we characterized the MS-derived cell's in vitro properties and concluded that it is similar to a perineurial cell. The extracellular matrix protein, laminin, and fibronectin expressed in the MS-derived cell might contribute to HSMC survival and morphology through cell to matrix adhesion. Neuropeptides such as SP and NKA, expressed in the MS-derived cell, might play some role in enhanced HSMC survival in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Jichi Medical School, Tochigi-ken, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Demitsu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Murata
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kakurai
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kiyosawa
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yaoita
mesh_terms: D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000032:analysis; D002450:Cell Communication; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002470:Cell Survival; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000032:analysis; D019085:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007797:Laminin / Q000032:analysis; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000473:pathology*; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D015288:Neurokinin A / Q000032:analysis; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000032:analysis; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000166:cytology; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology*; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000032:analysis; D013373:Substance P / Q000032:analysis; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000032:analysis; D014746:Vimentin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D005353:Fibronectins; D007797:Laminin; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; D009418:S100 Proteins; D014746:Vimentin; D013373:Substance P; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D013004:Somatostatin; D015288:Neurokinin A; D003094:Collagen; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide