Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1988. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Disseminated Kaposi's sarcoma in AIDS: histogenesis-related populations and influence of long-term treatment with rIFN-alpha A.
J Invest Dermatol. 1987 Dec;89(6):618-24. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/88060592 Mayer-da-Silva A; Stadler R; Imcke E; Bratzke B; Orfanos CE; Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Steglitz,; Free University of Berlin, F.R.G.
Abstract:
Lesions (n = 19) of cutaneous Kaposi's sarcoma in different stages of development were obtained from 13 patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), and studied by light and electron microscopy. Six additional biopsies from 4 patients treated with recombinant alpha A interferon were obtained after treatment. Varying amounts of two proliferating cell populations were found: (1) Large cells showing cytologic and histochemical characteristics of endothelial cells. They were seen in close proximity to normal vessels, forming new vascular structures and large aggregates found in papular and nodular lesions. (2) Smaller spindle-shaped cells, probably of pericytic origin. They appeared in bundles and fascicles in the papillary dermis of the cutaneous Kaposi's sarcoma lesions and, in part, gave origin to thin-walled, bizarre-shaped vessels that show incomplete lumina proliferating from the upper to the deep dermis and are surrounded by extravasate erythrocytes and siderophages. After long-term systemic treatment with recombinant alpha A interferon, the endothelial type of tumor cell aggregates mostly disappeared, whereas most of the spindle-shaped pericytic-like cells were still present. Our findings lead us to suggest that some cellular product may, as a promoter factor, induce the proliferation and growth of endothelial cells. This factor may be blocked by alpha A interferon and cause regression of endothelial cell proliferation observed in AIDS patients undergoing long-term systemic therapy.
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*COMPLICATIONS Endothelium/PATHOLOGY Human Interferon Type I/*THERAPEUTIC USE Recombinant Proteins/THERAPEUTIC USE Sarcoma, Kaposi's/DRUG THERAPY/ETIOLOGY/*PATHOLOGY Skin Neoplasms/DRUG THERAPY/ETIOLOGY/*PATHOLOGY JOURNAL ARTICLE
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Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1988. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
