Tumor‐associated macrophages induce lymphangiogenesis in cervical cancer via interaction with tumor cells

Our studies were conducted to investigate the clinical and functional significance of tumor‐associated macrophages (TAMs) in cervical tumor lymphatic metastasis. We found that the increase in macrophages in tumor stroma is significantly associated with lymphatic metastasis (p = 0.017), through performing immunohistochemical staining in 111 cervical samples (55 invasive squamous carcinomas of uterine cervix, 27 cervical intraepithelial neoplasms III, and 29 normal cervix). The human lymphatic endothelial cells (HLEC), which were cultured in conditioned medium of cervical cancer cell‐macrophage coculture, formed more tube‐like structures in vitro, when compared with those in conditioned mediums of LEC, normal cervical epithelium, single macrophage, and single cervical cancer cell (all p < 0.001). The mRNA expressions of IL‐1β and IL‐8 in cervical cancer cells cocultured with macrophages were increased, compared with those in cervical cancer cell cultured alone (p_IL‐1β < 0.05 and p_IL‐8 < 0.01). Meanwhile, the mRNA expression of VEGF‐C and VEGF‐A was increased in macrophages cocultured with cervical cancer cells, compared with the expression in those macrophages cultured alone (both p < 0.05). Taken together, the results suggest that TAMs promote lymphangiogenesis mainly through interaction with surrounding cervical cancer cells.     

AIBP: A Novel Molecule at the Interface of Cholesterol Transport,Angiogenesis, and Atherosclerosis

Cardiovascular disease, which is often driven by hypercholesterolemia and subsequent coronary atherosclerosis, is the number-one cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Based on long-term epidemiological studies, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels are inversely correlated with risk for coronary artery disease (CAD). HDL-mediated reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) is responsible for cholesterol removal from the peripheral tissues and return to the liver for final elimination.1 In atherosclerosis, intraplaque angiogenesis promotes plaque growth and increases plaque vulnerability. Conceivably, the acceleration of RCT and disruption of intraplaque angiogenesis would inhibit atherosclerosis and reduce CAD. We have identified a protein called apoA-I binding protein (AIBP) that augments HDL functionality by accelerating cholesterol efflux. Furthermore, AIBP inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 activation in endothelial cells and limits angiogenesis.2 The following discusses the prospect of using AIBP as a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of CAD.     

食管癌淋巴管生成研究进展

食管癌预后差,易早期出现淋巴结转移。肿瘤发生淋巴结转移与肿瘤的淋巴管生成及淋巴管生成因子的表达有关。肿瘤进展过程与淋巴管生成有关。近年来,关于食管癌淋巴管生成及淋巴结转移的研究逐渐成为食管癌相关研究的热点。现将食管癌淋巴管生成方面的研究进展综述如下。     

Platelet-derived growth factors induced lymphangiogenesis: evidence,unanswered questions and upcoming challenges

Crosstalk between angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in embryonic development continues during postnatal life and has specific mechanisms involving factors that initiate activation of the intracellular cascade for their specific receptors. Platelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs) and their corresponding receptors (PDGFRs) are known as important regulators of blood vessel development in both normal and pathologic angiogenesis. Despite some recent papers which reported a potential role of the PDGF/PDGFR axis in lymphatic spread of tumor cells, a few papers have suggested the potential role of PDGFs in tumor lymphangiogenesis development. The present paper summarizes the potential lymphangiogenic role of the PDGF/PDGFR axis, underlying upcoming challenges in the field.     

3‐O‐Acetyloleanolic acid inhibits angiopoietin‐1‐induced angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis via suppression of angiopoietin‐1/Tie‐2 signaling

Tumor angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis are important processes in tumor progression and metastasis. The inhibitory effects of 3‐O‐acetyloleanolic acid (3AOA), a pentacyclic triterpenoid compound isolated from Vigna sinensis K., on tumor‐induced angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in vitro and in vivo were studied. Angiopoietin‐1 is an important angiogenic and lymphangiogenic factor secreted from colon carcinoma CT‐26 cells under hypoxia conditions. 3AOA inhibited proliferation, migration, and tube formation of angiopoietin‐1‐treated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and human lymphatic microvascular endothelial cells (HLMEC). 3AOA reduced angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in angiopoietin‐1‐stimulated Matrigel plugs. Also, 3AOA inhibited tumor growth and tumor‐induced angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in an angiopoietin‐1‐induced CT‐26 allograft colon carcinoma animal model. 3AOA inhibited activation of the angiopoietin‐1 receptor Tie‐2 and activation of the downstream signaling factors FAK, AKT, and ERK1/2 that are involved in the angiopoietin‐1/Tie‐2‐signaling pathway. Thus, 3AOA has an inhibitory effect on angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis induced by angiopoietin‐1 both in vitro and in vivo, and the inhibitory effect of 3AOA is probably due to suppression of angiopoietin‐1/Tie‐2 signaling in HUVEC and HLMEC.