Characterization of four cell lines derived from a human malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the maxillary sinus.

We have established four cell lines from a human malignant fibrous histiocytoma. Each cell line had human aneuploid karyotype and DNA aneuploidy. Cells in all lines expressed CD13, CD68 and vimentin but lacked CD11, CD14, CD15, CD16, CD45, HLA class II and other mesenchymal and epithelial markers such as desmin, alpha-smooth muscle, myoglobin, S-100 protein, and cytokeratin. None of the cells expressed surface IgG or C3 receptor, nor did any of them phagocytose latex particles. The cells reacted with an antibody for prolyl-4-hydroxylase, but no collagen (types I, II, III, or IV) was detected in any of the cell lines. The homogenates of all cell lines had cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase 3 activity. Two cell lines produced granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), interleukin (IL)-1alpha, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha, another line produced G-CSF, IL-1alpha, IL-6 and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-AB, and the remaining cell line produced only PDGF-AB. None of the cells produced transforming growth factor-alpha. The results indicated that the cell lines were immunophenotypically similar to primitive mesenchymal cells.