(American Journal of Pathology. 2001;159:57-61.)
© 2001 American Society for Investigative Pathology
NF1 Deletions in S-100 Protein-Positive and Negative Cells of Sporadic and Neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1)-Associated Plexiform Neurofibromas and Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors
Arie Perry*,
Kevin A. Roth*,
Ruma Banerjee*,
Christine E. Fuller* and
David H. Gutmann
From the Departments of Pathology*
and
Neurology,
Washington University School of
Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
 |
Abstract
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Although plexiform neurofibroma (PN) is thought to represent a
benign neoplasm with the potential for malignant transformation
(malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor; MPNST), its
neoplastic nature has been difficult to prove due to cellular
heterogeneity, which hampers standard molecular genetic
analysis. Its mixed composition typically includes Schwann
cells, fibroblasts, perineurial-like cells, and
mast cells. Although NF1 loss of heterozygosity has been
reported in subsets of PNs, it remains uncertain which cell
type(s) harbor these alterations. Using a dual-color fluorescence
in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry
technique, we studied NF1 gene status in S-100
protein-positive and -negative cell subpopulations in archival
paraffin-embedded specimens from seven PNs, two atypical
PNs, one cellular/atypical PN, and eight MPNSTs derived
from 13 patients, seven of which had neurofibromatosis type 1
(NF1). NF1 loss was detected in four of seven PNs and
one atypical PN, with deletions entirely restricted to S-100
protein-immunoreactive Schwann cells. In contrast, all eight
MPNSTs harbored NF1 deletions, regardless of
S-100 protein expression or NF1 clinical status. Our results suggest
that the Schwann cell is the primary neoplastic component in PNs and
that S-100 protein-negative cells in MPNST represent dedifferentiated
Schwann cells, which harbor NF1 deletions in
both NF1-associated and sporadic tumors.
 |
Introduction
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Neurofibroma is defined as a benign nerve sheath tumor composed of
a variable mixture of Schwann, perineurial-like, and fibroblastic
cells, as well as ones with features intermediate between these various
cells.1
Additional elements that may be encountered
include mast cells, CD34-immunoreactive cells, melanocytic cells,
heterologous epithelial elements,
entrapped axons, ganglion cells or other native neural, dermal, or soft
tissue components.1-3
This cellular heterogeneity has
made it difficult to determine whether neurofibromas are neoplastic or
hyperplastic in nature and, if the former, which cell type(s) are
primarily neoplastic. Recognized variants of neurofibroma include
localized cutaneous, diffuse cutaneous, localized intraneural,
plexiform, and massive soft tissue forms.1
Also,
mitotically inactive examples with increased cellularity and/or
pleomorphism are referred to as cellular and/or atypical neurofibromas
or plexiform neurofibromas, and such cases may be difficult to
distinguish from low-grade malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor
(MPNST). The plexiform neurofibroma (PN) is the only neurofibroma
subtype with a significant rate of malignant transformation (
5%)
into MPNST.1
Because PN is encountered most commonly in
the setting of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), NF1 is a
logical candidate tumor suppressor gene for involvement in PN and MPNST
tumorigenesis. Recent studies have demonstrated that
63% of MPNSTs
have NF1 or 17q loss of heterozygosity (LOH); however,
estimates of those genetic alterations in neurofibromas have ranged
from 0 to 57% of cases4-12
(Table 1)
. Because most studies have not
specified the growth patterns of their neurofibromas, these widely
differing results likely reflect not only the complex cellular
composition of individual tumors, but also varying subtypes of
neurofibroma being analyzed. For example, those that have specified
neurofibroma subtype have reported high rates of LOH in PNs, with only
rare LOH in cutaneous examples.9,11,12
In contrast to
neurofibromas, MPNSTs are obviously neoplastic and often demonstrate
some degree of Schwann cell differentiation. Given that some MPNSTs
arise from PNs, the Schwann cell is thought to represent the most
likely neoplastic component in PNs as well. However, a small minority
of MPNSTs demonstrate perineurial differentiation13
suggesting that other cell types may be occasionally implicated.
Interestingly, none of the perineurial MPNSTs reported thus far have
been associated with either an underlying neurofibroma or the NF1
syndrome.13
Most recently, Schwann cells have been further
implicated in studies finding cytogenetic alterations14
and lack of neurofibromin expression15
in cultured Schwann
cells from neurofibromas, with no detectable alterations from cultured
fibroblasts obtained from the same specimens. However, it is not clear
from these in vitro experiments what selection biases were
introduced by expansion of these cell populations in culture. In this
study, we have performed the first in situ evaluation of
NF1 deletions within intact PNs and MPNSTs.
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Table 1. Repeated Loss of Heterozygosity Studies for NF1 in
Neurofibromas and Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors
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Materials and Methods
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Eighteen cases of PN, atypical PN, and MPNST were retrieved from
the archives of the Lauren V. Ackerman Surgical Pathology Laboratory at
the Washington University Medical Center in St. Louis. All available
slides were reviewed, and diagnoses confirmed using current
criteria.1
Atypical PNs were defined by the presence of
nuclear atypia in the absence of significant mitotic activity, whereas,
cellular PNs were defined by hypercellularity in the absence of
significant mitotic activity. A representative formalin-fixed
paraffin-embedded block was selected per case for further study with
dual-color immunohistochemistry/fluorescence in situ
hybridization (FISH). Sporadic schwannomas were used as disomic (ie,
normal 2 copies) NF1 controls because they contain S-100
protein-positive Schwann cells of similar size and shape to those
typically encountered in neurofibromas and would not be expected to
harbor NF1 deletions. Clinical records were reviewed, and
the diagnosis of neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) was rendered in patients
fulfilling National Institute of Health (NIH)
guidelines.16
Most of these patients have been carefully
examined and followed in the Neurofibromatosis Clinic at Washington
University.
Unstained 5-µm thick sections were cut onto superfrost/plus,
precleaned glass slides from each paraffin block. The sections were
deparaffinized in CitriSolv (Fisher, Pittsburgh, PA) and rehydrated in
isopropanol and water. Endogenous peroxidase activity was inhibited by
incubation in 3% hydrogen peroxide in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS;
10 mmol/L; pH = 7.2) for 5 minutes. Non-specific antibody binding
was inhibited by incubation in PBS-blocking buffer (PBS with 1% BSA,
0.2% powdered milk and 0.3% Triton X-100) for 20 minutes at room
temperature and polyclonal rabbit anti-S-100 protein antiserum (Z311,
Dako, Carpinteria, CA; 1:50,000 in PBS blocking buffer) was added to
the sections overnight at 4°C. Sections were then washed in 1x PBS
(3 x 5 minutes each) and incubated with horseradish peroxidase
conjugated donkey anti-rabbit secondary antibodies (Jackson
Immunoresearch Laboratories, West Grove, PA; diluted 1:1000 in
PBS-blocking buffer) for one hour at room temperature. Antigen-antibody
complexes were subsequently detected by direct tyramide signal
amplification (Perkin Elmer Life Sciences, Boston, MA) using cyanine-3
conjugated tyramide (tyramide signal aplification plus cyanine 3) for
20 minutes at room temperature according to the manufacturers
instructions. Slides were washed in PBS and 2x SSC for 5 minutes each.
Subsequent FISH was performed on the S-100 protein immunolabeled slides
using our previously published protocol17
and a
fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled P1 artificial chromosome DNA
probe targeting the exon 28 to 3' region of the NF1 gene on
chromosome 17q11.2 (donated by Dr. Eric Legius, Belgium). The probe was
diluted 1:50 in DenHyb buffer (Insitus, Albuquerque, NM) and 10
microliters was directly applied to each tissue section. Probe and
target DNA were co-denatured at 90°C for 13 minutes, followed by
overnight hybridization at 37°C in a humidified oven. The slides were
then washed for 5 minutes with 50% formamide in 1x SSC followed by two
more washes of 2x SSC for 5 minutes each. The nuclei were
counterstained with DAPI/Antifade (Insitus). Fluorescent signals were
enumerated under an Olympus B x60 fluorescent microscope with
appropriate filters. Because cytoplasmic borders were often
indistinct under fluorescence microscopy, only cells with
immunopositive nuclei (ie, some red fluorescence over the nucleus) were
scored for NF1 signals in the evaluation of S-100
protein-positive cellular subsets. However, because cytoplasmic
staining was also frequently observed, only immunonegative (ie, blue)
nuclei with no surrounding red fluorescence were scored for
NF1 signals in the evaluation of S-100 protein-negative
cellular populations. Because the S-100 protein staining sometimes
obscured the underlying NF1 signals when the colors were
viewed simultaneously, signal enumeration required the consecutive
viewing of individual nuclei under each single-pass filter (ie, blue,
red, and green).
Given the truncation artifact (ie, fewer signals in sectioned nuclei
with incomplete DNA complement) associated with thin tissue FISH,
cutoffs for genetic alterations were based on results from four control
hybridizations (see above). The cutoff for NF1 gene deletion
was based on the mean percentage of nuclei with one signal in controls
plus two standard deviations. Because nuclei with >2 signals were
never seen in these controls, NF1 (17q) polysomy (gain) was
arbitrarily defined as >5% nuclei with three or more FISH signals.
 |
Results
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The clinical features, tumor diagnoses, and FISH results are
summarized in Table 2
. There were 18
tumors obtained from 13 patients, 7 of which had diagnostic features of
NF1. The seven PNs, two atypical PNs, and one cellular/atypical PN came
from five female and two male patients ranging in age from 2 to 24
years of age (median 8 years). All but two (017 and 482) fulfilled
criteria for NF1. Given the young ages of these two patients, however,
it seems likely that they either represent mosaic forms of NF1 or as of
yet undiagnosed NF1 in young individuals with insufficient clinical
criteria to warrant a definitive diagnosis. The NF1-associated MPNST
patients consisted of two males and two females ranging in age from 13
to 33 years (median 18.5 years). The sporadic MPNSTs were derived from
one male and three female patients ranging in age from 36 to 62 years
(median 44.5 years). One of the NF1-associated and one of the sporadic
MPNSTs had rhabdomyoblasts (ie, Triton tumor). Three of the sporadic
MPNSTs were probably radiation-induced sarcomas based on clinical
history (radiation for prior breast cancer or Hodgkins disease).
Representative examples of dual immunohistochemistry/FISH results are
illustrated in Figure 1
. Control sections
demonstrated 1 NF1 signal in 27 to 40% of nuclei. Based on
the mean (35%) plus 2 standard deviations (12%), a cutoff of >47%
nuclei with one signal was established for NF1 deletion.
These results are similar to those obtained using other DNA FISH probes
in our laboratory on thin paraffin sections from non-neoplastic
controls (data not shown). The fraction of cells with one
NF1 signal ranged from 50 to 93% (median 67%) in
populations interpreted as deleted versus 14 to 39% (median
27%) in populations interpreted as nondeleted. NF1 deletion
was detected within the S-100 protein-positive cellular populations of
four (57%) PN and one (33%) atypical PN (Table 2)
. The S-100
protein-negative populations from these same tumors were disomic
(normal 2 copies). Four of the MPNSTs had too few S-100
protein-positive cells to determine NF1 status within this
subset of tumor cells. However, NF1 deletion was found in
the S-100 protein-negative cells of these same cases (Table 2)
. The
remaining four MPNSTs demonstrated NF1 deletion in both the
S-100 protein-positive and -negative components. Polysomies (gains with
3 to 4 signals per nucleus) of NF1 were identified in
subpopulations of S-100 protein-positive cells of one atypical PN, one
cellular/atypical PN and one MPNST. These cells likely represent
polyploid or aneuploid clones within these tumors.

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Figure 1. Representative examples of dual S-100 protein immunohistochemistry and
NF1 FISH hybridization. A: Low-power image
from a control schwannoma, demonstrating relatively diffuse S-100
protein immunoreactivity
(red). As is typical of
this antibody, some of the staining is cytoplasmic and some is nuclear.
B: At higher magnification, two S-100 protein-positive cells
demonstrate the normal disomic state, with two copies of NF1
(green signals) per
nucleus. C: Two adjacent nuclei from a representative
plexiform neurofibroma (case
957-A) are shown. The nucleus on the right
demonstrates S-100 protein immunoreactivity and only a single
NF1 signal, whereas the nucleus on the left is S-100
protein-negative with the normal disomic NF1 dosage.
Hybridization counts from this case revealed one NF1 signal
in 67% of S-100 protein-positive versus 27% of S-100
protein-negative nuclei. This is consistent with a gene deletion that
is restricted to the S-100 protein-positive population of cells.
D: This S-100 protein-negative region of an MPNST
(case 566) demonstrated
one NF1 signal in 93% of nuclei, consistent with deletion.
S-100 protein-positive regions of the same tumor similarly showed
evidence of deletion (not
illustrated).
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Discussion
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Using a dual-color FISH-immunohistochemical method, we have
demonstrated, for the first time, NF1 gene copy numbers in
S-100 protein-positive versus -negative cellular populations
in PNs and MPNSTs. One of the primary advantages of this technique is
that it is applied in situ with preserved tissue morphology.
In this fashion, some entrapped native tissue elements, such as
uninvolved nerve fascicles and infiltrated fat, skeletal muscle, sweat
glands, etc can easily be excluded from genetic analysis. Our results
provide the most conclusive evidence thus far that the S-100
protein-positive Schwann cell is the primary target for NF1
deletions in PNs, both typical and atypical subsets. Furthermore, it
adds support to the growing body of literature suggesting that most, if
not all PNs are neoplastic, rather than hyperplastic in
nature9,11,12,14,15
. Because some of our cases, and many
of those in the literature, harbor no detectable genetic alterations,
however, we cannot exclude the possibility that a subset of PNs, and
perhaps most cutaneous neurofibromas, are in fact, hyperplastic or
hamartomatous. Alternatively, these cases may harbor inactivating
mutations beyond the resolution of FISH or LOH, involve alterations of
other genes besides NF1, or consist of tumors with minute
neoplastic clones that induce an overshadowing reactive process
including non-neoplastic fibroblasts, perineurial-like cells, native
intraneural Schwann cells, etc. Further resolution of these issues will
likely require sophisticated screening techniques capable of detecting
genetic alterations within individual cells.
Another interesting finding in our study was the prevalence of
NF1 deletion in MPNSTs, regardless of S-100 protein
expression or NF1 status. The simplest interpretation is that S-100
protein-negative tumor cells within MPNSTs represent dedifferentiated
Schwann cells that still harbor NF1 deletion. In other
words, the loss of NF1 represents an early tumorigenic event
that is still detectable in high-grade neoplastic clones no longer
manifesting immunohistochemical evidence of Schwann cell
differentiation. The finding of divergent epithelial and/or mesenchymal
differentiation in some MPNSTs (eg, Triton tumors) and complete lack of
S-100 protein expression in others would further support this
dedifferentiation hypothesis. In any case, only a few MPNSTs have been
genetically characterized in terms of NF1. Reported LOH
studies have been largely limited to examples from NF1 patients (Table 1)
,4-7,12
where NF1 loss has been common. In a
small cytogenetic study by Rao and colleagues,17
monosomy
was identified in one of four sporadic MPNSTs, suggesting that
NF1 may be implicated in some of these cases as
well.18
Gómez and colleagues found no mutations in
nine sporadic MPNSTs within the GAP-related domain by polymerase chain
reaction/single-strand conformational polymorphism.19
However, this was a fairly limited screening and additional studies are
obviously needed with larger numbers of both sporadic and
NF1-associated examples.
 |
Footnotes
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Address reprint requests to Arie Perry, M.D, Division of Neuropathology, Box 8118, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110-1093. E-mail:
aperry{at}pathology.wustl.edu
Supported in part by Department of Defense grant DAMD 17-98-1-8611 (to A.P. and D.H.G.)
Accepted for publication April 11, 2001.
 |
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