Summary
Electron microscopy has been used to study the cell to cell and cell to stroma contacts between smooth muscle cells (SMC) in normal vessels, angiomyolipoma and well and poorly differentiated vascular leiomyosarcoma. Micrographs were examined with a semiautomatic image analysis system. The length of the cell borders was calculated and the type and number of contacts per 100 µm cell perimeter and per 100 cells were determined. In all cases there was a predominance of simple appositions. Intermediate junctions, nexus junctions, interdigitations, intermediate contacts and junctional interdigitations were less frequently observed. In general, as the SMC become malignant and less differentiated the number of cell to stroma attachments decreases markedly and the intercellular contacts increase slightly.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alitalo K, Vaheri A (1982) Pericellular matrix in malignant transformation. Adv Cancer Res 37:111–158
Alroy J, Pauli BU, Weinstein RS (1981) Correlation between numbers of desmosomes and the aggressiveness of transitional cell carcinoma in human urinary bladder. Cancer 47:104–112
Bennett MV, Goodenough DA (1978) Gap junctions, electronic coupling and intercellular communication. Neurosci Res Prog Bull 16:371–486
Clarke MA (1970) Specialized intercellular junctions in tumour cells. An electron microscope study of mouse sarcoma cells. Anat Rec 166:199–206
Curtis ASG (1973) Cell adhesion. Prog Biophys Mol Biol 27:315–386
Gabella G (1979) Smooth muscle cell junctions and structural aspects of contraction. Br Med Bull 35:213–218
Gabella G (1984) Structural apparatus for force transmission in smooth muscles. Physiol Rev 64:455–477
Garrod DR, Nicol A (1981) Cell behaviour and molecular mechanisms of cell-cell adhesion. Biol Rev 56:199–242
Henderson RM (1975) Cell to cell contacts. In: Daniel EE, Paton DM (eds) Methods in Pharmacology, Vol 3; Smooth muscle. Plenum Press, New York, p 47–77
Hooper ML, Subak-Sharpe JH (1981) Metabolic cooperation between cells. Int Rev Cytol 69:45–104
Kanno Y (1985) Modulation of cell communication and carcinogenesis. Jpn J Physiol 35:693–707
Liotta LA, Roa NC, Barsky SH, Bryant G (1984) The laminin receptor and basement membrane dissilution: role in tumour metastasis. In: Ciba Foundation (ed) Basement membranes and cell movement. Pitman Press, London, p 146–162
Martinez-Palomo A (1971) Intercellular junctions in normal and malignant cells. Pathobiol Annu 1:261–279
McNutt NS, Weinstein RS (1969) Carcinoma of the cervix: deficiency of nexus intercellular junctions. Science 165:597–598
Roos E (1984) Cellular adhesion, invasion and metastasis. Biochim et Biophys Acta 738:263–284
Staehelin LA (1974) Structure and function of intercellular junctions. Int Rev Cytol 39:191–293
Staehelin LA, Hull BE (1978) Junctions between living cells. Scient Am 238(5):140–152
Vracko R (1982) The role of basal lamina in maintenance of orderly tissue structure. In: Kuehn K, Schoene H, Timpl R (eds) New trends in basement membrane research, Raven Press, New York, p 1–7
Wang NS, Seemayer TA, Ahmed MN, Morin J (1974) Pulmonary leimyosarcoma associated with an arteriovenous fistula. Arch Pathol 98:100–105
Weinstein R, Zel G, Merk FB (1974) Quantification of occludens, adherens and nexus junctions in human tumours. In: Schultz J, Block RE (eds) Membrane transformation in neoplasia, Academic Press, New York, p 127–146
Weinstein RS, Merk FB, Alroy J (1976) The structure and function of intercellular junctions in cancer. Adv Cancer Res 23:23–89
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sosa-Melgarejo, J.A., Berry, C.L. Intercellular contacts in tumours of the vascular smooth muscle cells in man. Vichows Archiv A Pathol Anat 413, 373–380 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00716985
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00716985