HISTOCHEMICAL AND IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF SURGICALLY RESECTED AND HETEROTRANSPLANTED WILMS TUMOR

  • 1 January 1985
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 45  (5) , 2350-2357
Abstract
Nine surgically resected Wilms'' tumors (WIT, from humans) and nude mouse heterotransplants from 1 WIT were studied by histochemistry and immunohistochemistry. Histochemistry showed acid phosphatase in all cells, while alkaline phosphatase and .gamma.-glutamyl transpeptidase were present in only some tubules. Using immunohistochemistry, antibodies to the intermediate filaments cytokeratin and vimentin distinguished tubular epithelium and mesenchyme, respectively. WIT tubules were also identified using antibody against a structural component (epithelial membranes antigen) and a secretory product (uromucoid) associated with distal convoluted tubules of normal kidney. Basement membrane surrounding the tubules of WIT was demonstrated using antibody to type IV collagen plus laminin. Different blastema subpopulations were negative or stained positively with antibodies to cytokeratin and vimentin. Production of basement membrane by blastema was also shown. Fetal antigen expression in WIT was examined using the monoclonal PI 153/3 and J5 antibodies. The blastema and tubules of WIT were strongly stained by PI 153/3, which did not label normal adult kidney and weakly stained by J5, which strongly labeled glomeruli and proximal convoluted tubules of normal kidney. WIT blastema evidently is heterogenous in intermediate filament subtypes, while WIT tubules more closely resemble distal, rather than proximal convoluted tubules of adult kidneys but also retain expression of fetal antigens.