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ABSTRACT: Aims
Recent studies have observed that cells from high-grade glial tumors are capable of assuming an endothelial phenotype and genotype, a process termed 'vasculogenic mimicry' (VM). Here we model and manipulate VM in dynamic 3-dimensional (3D) glioma cultures.Methods
The Rotary Cell Culture System (RCCS) was used to derive large macroscopic glioma aggregates, which were sectioned for immunohistochemistry and RNA extracted prior to angiogenic array-PCR.Results
A 3D cell culture induced microenvironment (containing only glial cells) is sufficient to promote expression of the endothelial markers CD105, CD31 and vWF in a proportion of glioma aggregates in vitro. Many pro-angiogenic genes were upregulated in glioma aggregates and in primary explants and glioma cells were capable of forming tubular-like 3D structures under endothelial-promoting conditions. Competitive inhibition of either vascular endothelial growth factor or fibroblast growth factor receptor was sufficient to impair VM and downregulate the tumor-derived angiogenic response, whilst impairing tumor cell derived tubule formation. Glioma xenografts using the same cells reveal tumor-derived vessel-like structures near necrotic areas, consistent with widespread tumor-derived endothelial expression in primary glioma tissue.Conclusions
Our findings support studies indicating that tumor-derived endothelial cells arise in gliomas and describe a dynamic 3D culture as a bona fide model to interrogate the molecular basis of this phenomenon in vitro. Resistance to current anti-angiogenic therapies and the contribution of tumor derived endothelial cells to such resistance are amenable to study using the RCCS.
SUBMITTER: Smith SJ
PROVIDER: S-EPMC4673156 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Sep
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Smith Stuart J SJ Ward Jennifer H JH Tan Christopher C Grundy Richard G RG Rahman Ruman R
Oncotarget 20150901 26
<h4>Aims</h4>Recent studies have observed that cells from high-grade glial tumors are capable of assuming an endothelial phenotype and genotype, a process termed 'vasculogenic mimicry' (VM). Here we model and manipulate VM in dynamic 3-dimensional (3D) glioma cultures.<h4>Methods</h4>The Rotary Cell Culture System (RCCS) was used to derive large macroscopic glioma aggregates, which were sectioned for immunohistochemistry and RNA extracted prior to angiogenic array-PCR.<h4>Results</h4>A 3D cell c ...[more]