ORIGIN OF SPINDLE-SHAPED CELLS IN KAPOSI SARCOMA

Abstract

Adult skin microvascular endothelial cellsderived from new born foreskin were grownand maintained in tissue culture with andwithout dibutyryl cyclic AMP (DC-AMP) andisobutyl methyl xanthine (IMX). Whereas inthe presence ofDC-AMP and IMX, the cellsshowed the typical cobblestone appearance ofendothelium, in the absence of these agents thecultured cells permanently converted to aspindle-shaped configuration. Because thisphenomenon of transdifferentiation alsooccurs in the presence ofspecific cytokines, theprofile of which is notoriously altered inacquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS),the findings support the concept that in Kaposisarcoma the spindle-shaped cells derive fromdysfunction in the microvascular environment.