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Updated: May 22, 2026

A Three-dimensional Tissue Culture Model to Study Primary Human Bone Marrow and its Malignancies

A Three-dimensional Tissue Culture Model to Study Primary Human Bone Marrow and its Malignancies

Published on: March 8, 2014

Smooth muscle actin expression in primary bone tumours.

F Hemingway¹, T G Kashima, G Mahendra

¹Department of Pathology, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LD, UK.

Virchows Archiv : an International Journal of Pathology

|May 1, 2012

Summary

Smooth muscle actin (SMA) expression varies across primary bone tumors. Identifying SMA patterns aids in differentiating bone lesions, though the exact cell type expressing SMA remains unclear.

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Models of Bone Metastasis

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Published on: September 4, 2012

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Models of Bone Metastasis

Models of Bone Metastasis

Published on: September 4, 2012

Area of Science:

Orthopedic Pathology
Skeletal Biology
Tumor Immunology

Background:

Smooth muscle actin (SMA) expression is documented in bone tumors, but its precise pattern and cellular origin are not well understood.
Previous studies suggest SMA presence in giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) and other bone neoplasms, necessitating further investigation into its diagnostic utility.
The role of SMA in distinguishing benign from malignant bone lesions requires clarification.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the differential expression patterns of SMA in normal bone and a wide spectrum of primary bone tumors.
To characterize the cellular nature of SMA-expressing cells within these bone lesions.
To assess the diagnostic value of SMA expression in the differential diagnosis of bone tumors.

Main Methods:

Immunohistochemistry was employed to detect SMA and other muscle/vascular markers in normal bone, GCTB, and various primary bone tumors.
Stromal cells from GCTB, chondroblastoma (CB), and aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) were cultured and analyzed for SMA expression.
Expression analysis included comparison with markers like desmin and caldesmon to identify SMA-expressing cell types.

Main Results:

SMA was exclusively found in blood vessels in normal bone.
Cultured mononuclear stromal cells (MSCs) from GCTB, ABC, and CB expressed SMA.
Strong SMA expression was observed in MSCs from non-ossifying fibroma, fibrous dysplasia, and brown tumors; SMA was also present in GCTB, ABC, CB, chondromyxoid fibroma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma, and osteosarcoma, but largely absent in other bone tumor types.

Conclusions:

Differential SMA expression exists across primary bone tumors, offering a potential tool for differential diagnosis.
SMA-expressing cells in bone tumors are negative for desmin and caldesmon, suggesting they may be myofibroblasts or perivascular cells like pericytes.
Further research is needed to fully elucidate the identity and functional significance of SMA-expressing cells in bone pathology.