A cell line (NMSG10) was established form malignant fibrous histiocytoma in human tibial bone. The cells revealed polymorphism at the primary culture stage, but they gradually became monotonous fibroblastic cells during transfer. On light microscopic examination, the features of these transformed cells were shown to be positive for alcian blue, oil red 0 and acid phosphatase stain.
In an immunohistochemical test, the cells were shown to be positive for antiproteoglycans, S-100, α1- antitrypsin, vimentin and actin. An electron microscopic examination, revealed multiple irregular long microvilli extending from the cell surface. Also noted were microvesicles and lipid vacuoles in the cytoplasm. There was also a collagenous microfilament in the extracellular matrix. Furthermore, we found a lot of mucoidal substance which was able to be stained with alcian blue and to be digested by hyaluronidase in the cultured medium. This mucoidal substance was identifiedthough two dimensional electrophoresis as being mainly hyaluronic acid with a macromolecular weight, a small amount of heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate. Additionally, chromosomal analysis was performed at the 7th passage, revealing aneuploidy witha modal number of 46. The primary cells and NMSG10 cells were not transferable to nude mice.
