Hemangioblastomas: Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study of the stromal cells

Abstract

An immunohistochemical study of 36 hemangioblastomas (Hmbl) from 32 patients was performed to clarify the cytogenesis of stromal cells (SC). In 19 of 29 Hmbl, SC revealed glial fibrillary acidic protein‐immunolabeling with an antigen retrieval by trypsinization, and were also positive for S‐100 protein, αB crystallin, neuron‐specific enolase and vimentin. Ultrastructurally, SC contained lipid droplets, unevenly distributed intermediate filaments with occasional myelin figures, primitive desmosomal junctions and, although rare, Rosenthal fibers or a cilium. It is concluded that SC associated with Hmbl exhibit markers consistent with an astrocytic origin.