[Immunocytochemical and biochemical studies of an Ewing sarcoma cell line: evidence for neural differentiation in...

A cell line established from a Ewing's sarcoma removed from the fibula of a 19-year-old female was investigated for morphology and hormone sensitivity. Cells in culture expressed neurofilaments and showed positive immunostaining for neuron-specific enolase (NSE), Leu-7-antigen (HNK-1) and S-100 protein. The cells also contained PAS-positive, diastase-digestible cytoplasmic material, indicative of glycogen inclusions. Moreover, the cells responded to dopamine as well as to beta-adrenergic agonists and prostaglandins to stimulate cyclic AMP synthesis and 3H-glycogen hydrolysis. In conclusion, the morphological and biochemical data show evidence for a neural differentiation pattern of Ewing's sarcoma cells in vitro.