Intracellular branched tubular structures in osteosarcoma. An ultrastructural and serological study

Intracytoplasmic tubular structures, approximately 23 mμ, in diameter, were seen by electron microscopy within endothelial cells, malignant osteoblasts, and lymphocytes of an osteosarcoma. Although similar tubular structures have been seen in many different cells in vivo and in vitro, their presence...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cancer 1971-06, Vol.27 (6), p.1440-1448
Main Authors: Jenson, A. Bennett, Spjut, Harlan J., Smith, Marilyn N., Rapp, Fred
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Antibodies - analysis
Bone Neoplasms - immunology
Bone Neoplasms - pathology
Cell Nucleus
Cytoplasmic Granules
Endoplasmic Reticulum
Hemolytic Plaque Technique
Humans
Humerus - pathology
Lung - pathology
Lung Neoplasms - immunology
Lung Neoplasms - pathology
Lymphocytes
Male
Measles virus - immunology
Microscopy, Electron
Microtubules
Neoplasm Metastasis
Osteoblasts
Osteosarcoma - immunology
Osteosarcoma - pathology
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Summary:Intracytoplasmic tubular structures, approximately 23 mμ, in diameter, were seen by electron microscopy within endothelial cells, malignant osteoblasts, and lymphocytes of an osteosarcoma. Although similar tubular structures have been seen in many different cells in vivo and in vitro, their presence within endothelial cells of glomeruli in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus prompted the suggestion that they represent measles virus nucleocapsids. Although the morphogenesis of these tubules remains obscure, we have presented evidence that these tubules may form by condensation of intracisternal granular material secreted by the endoplasmic reticulum and probably represent response of the cell to injury by providing it with more structural stability. Measles antibody titers were performed on the sera of the patient and his immediate family, because similar tubules had been equated with measles virus nucleocapsids. Because these antibody titers were all markedly elevated, a comparative ultrastructural study was undertaken between the tubules reported herein and measles virus nucleocapsids. Although the ultrastructural features were superficially similar, their morphology and morphogenesis were different. Thus, we concluded that such tubular structures could not be equated with measles virus nucleocapsids. Several possible reasons for the high measles antibody titer in the sera of the patient and his immediate family are discussed.
ISSN:0008-543X
1097-0142
DOI:10.1002/1097-0142(197106)27:6<1440::AID-CNCR2820270626>3.0.CO;2-X