Establishment and characterization of a fibrous histiocytoma cell line (NMSG 10) derived from a malignant fibrous histiocytoma

A fibrous histiocytoma cell line, NMSG 10, was derived from a malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH), of human tibia, and its characteristics were examined. MFH was a pleomorphic subtype associated with myxoid and storiform areas. Primary culture revealed a mixture of histiocyte-like cells, fibroblast-like cells and giant cells, but fibroblast-like cells became the major population after several passages in vitro. In addition, NMSG 10 produced a large amount of viscous material which stained with alcian blue and was digested by hyaluronidase. Thus, this viscous material was a single component of glycosaminoglycans: hyaluronic acid (HA). The cells were spindle-shaped with well-developed cytoplasmic organelles and collagenous filaments, and a colloid iron-positive substance was observed in intercellular spaces. In scid mice, the mixed populations of neoplastic cells appeared similar in histology to that of the original tumor. These findings indicated that NMSG 10 expresses the unique properties of MFH, and should therefore be useful in studies on the biological behavior, and especially the presence of HA in MFH.