Distribution of cells labelled by a monoclonal antibody (A3) against a cloned cell line derived from a rat malignant fibrous histiocytoma.

To pursue the histogenesis of malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH), of which the cell of origin is still debated, a monoclonal antibody (A3) was produced against a rat MFH-derived cloned cell line (MT-8). Antigen recognized by A3 was around 80 kDa in molecular weight and was seen on the cytoplasmic membrane of MT-8 cells by immunoelectron microscopy. A3 reacted specifically with MT-8 cells, with another rat MFH-derived cell line (MT-9) and with their induced tumours in syngeneic rats, but not with other rat tumours such as fibrosarcoma, histiocytic sarcoma, malignant meningioma, uterine leiomyosarcoma, endometrial stromal sarcoma, mononuclear cell leukaemia and malignant schwannoma. These findings indicate that A3 has a high specificity for rat MFH cells. In fetuses on gestation days 15, 18 and 20 and in postnatal rats aged 1, 4 and 8 days, A3 reacted with primitive mesenchymal cells in visceral organs and around arteries and bronchi, as well as in the lamina propria of intestinal mucosa, renal interstitium, meninges and perineurium. There were no A3-positive connective tissue cells in organs or other sites in adult rats more than 10 weeks old. It is therefore likely that MFH cells share antigens with primitive mesenchymal cells, which may be multipotent for mesenchymal differentiation. The present study suggests that MFH consists of a population of primitive, undifferentiated mesenchymal cells. A3 also immunolabelled endothelial cells of arteries, venules and pulmonary capillaries in fetal, postnatal and adult rats; vascular endothelial cells in chemically induced hepatic and renal lesions also reacted strongly with A3. However, the significance of endothelial immunoreactivity with A3 remains to be elucidated. Copyright 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.