New cell lines from the skin and pulmonary lesions of patients with AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma have been developed at UCLA. These cell lines are much easier to grow and maintain than other reported KS lines. In addition, these KS cell lines secrete matrix and can be used as a monolayer to grow matrix-requiring cell lines.

Interestingly, the new cell lines have certain morphological and biochemical markers that suggest they may be useful as models for smooth muscle cells. As such, they promise to be valuable reagents for studies related to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.

Reference: UCLA Case No. 1991-531