Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptors flt and KDR in ovarian carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Two thirds of patients with ovarian carcinoma have advanced disease at diagnosis and have poor prognoses because of the presence of highly invasive carcinoma cells and rapidly accumulating ascitic fluid. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a potent mitogen of endothelial cells, is produced in elevated amounts by many tumors, including ovarian carcinomas. The known human receptors for VEGF, flt and KDR, are both cell surface tyrosine kinases and are expressed predominantly on endothelial cells. Acting through these receptors, VEGF may stimulate angiogenesis and promote tumor progression. PURPOSE: We aimed to clarify the function of VEGF in tumor development by identifying the cells in ovarian carcinoma tissue that express VEGF and its receptors. METHODS: VEGF, flt, and KDR expression was localized by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry in frozen sections of primary tumors from five patients with ovarian carcinoma and from metastases of ovarian carcinoma from three different patients. Reverse transcription followed by polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to analyze VEGF, flt, and KDR expression in six epithelial cell lines derived from ovarian carcinoma ascites from five additional patients. RESULTS: Messenger RNAs (mRNAs) encoding VEGF, flt, and KDR were detected in primary ascitic cells and in three of four ovarian carcinoma cell lines examined by RT-PCR. Two novel complementary DNAs that may encode truncated, soluble forms of flt were cloned from one primary source. VEGF levels of 20-120 pM were found in culture media conditioned by the cell lines. Elevated expression of VEGF mRNA was found in all primary tumors and metastases, especially at the margins of tumor acini. VEGF immunoreactivity was concentrated in clusters of tumor cells and patches of stromal matrix. flt immunoreactivity was confined to tumor blood vessels, but flt mRNA was not detected by in situ hybridization. In contrast, KDR mRNA was detected not only in vascular endothelial cells but also in tumor cells at primary malignant sites. CONCLUSIONS: VEGF is expressed by tumor cells in primary and metastatic ovarian carcinoma and accumulates in the stromal matrix. Its receptors, flt and KDR, are expressed by some tumor cells that coexpress VEGF. This is the first localization of KDR expression in nonendothelial cells. IMPLICATIONS: Coexpression of VEGF and KDR by tumor cells in ovarian carcinoma raises the possibility of autocrine stimulation and of therapeutic strategies targeting this receptor-ligand interaction.

The role of colony-stimulating factor 1 and its receptor in the etiopathogenesis of endometrial adenocarcinoma.

Colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1) is a homodimeric growth factor that humorally regulates the growth and differentiation of mononuclear phagocytes, and locally regulates maternal-fetal interactions during pregnancy. It exerts these actions through a transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptor, colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF-1R), the product of the c-fms proto-oncogene. Recent studies have demonstrated overexpression of CSF-1 and its receptor in breast, ovarian, and endometrial adenocarcinomas. To further investigate the possible role of CSF-1 and its receptor in the pathogenesis of endometrial adenocarcinoma, a prospective study was undertaken to study CSF-1 expression in benign and neoplastic endometrial epithelium and to compare serum CSF-1 levels in endometrial adenocarcinoma patients with healthy perimenopausal women. The mean serum levels of CSF-1 in 71 patients with endometrial cancer (4.9 +/- 1.8 microgram/liter) were significantly elevated compared with levels found in the 32 controls (3.5 +/- 1.1 microgram/liter). Within the endometrial adenocarcinoma group, circulating CSF-1 levels were significantly elevated in patients with large tumor volume, high grade, myometrial invasion, residual disease, and circulating CA-125 levels. High serum levels of serum CSF-1 were associated with elevated serum CA19-9 and CA-125 levels. Immunohistochemistry results revealed in tumor epithelium intense staining for CSF-1R (27 of 54 cases, 50%) and elevated staining for CSF-1 (41 of 54 cases, 75.9%), with intense staining of CSF-1 in 16 of 54 cases (29.6%). Staining was significantly greater in intensity and number of cells involved in malignant compared with benign epithelium for CSF-1R and CSF-1 (P = 0.05 and <0.0001, respectively). A positive correlation between amount and intensity of CSF-1 and CSF-1R staining in endometrial adenocarcinoma tissue was also demonstrated (P = 0.007). CSF-1 and CSF-1R mRNA was also detected in the tumor samples, confirming the expression of the protein in these tissues. Reverse transcription-PCR demonstrated the presence of mRNA for both the transmembrane and secreted forms of CSF-1 in all tumors analyzed. These results therefore support the hypotheses that CSF-1 and CSF-1R are overexpressed in endometrial adenocarcinoma, that levels of expression significantly correlate with clinicopathological risk factors for poor outcome, and that CSF-1 in association with its receptor via autocrine, juxtacrine, and/or paracrine interactions has a causal role in endometrial adenocarcinoma development and proliferation.

Isolation and characterization of four CSF-1-dependent placental macrophage cell lines.

By selection and cloning in the presence of colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1), we have obtained from separate explants of individual 12- or 13-day mouse placentas four clonal cell lines dependent on CSF-1 for survival and growth in culture. All four cell lines show characteristics consistent with their derivation from placental macrophages. We describe the effects of CSF-1 on growth, morphology, and CSF-1 receptor phosphorylation. One cell line, JPL2A, which shows relatively complete growth arrest in the absence of CSF-1, was characterized in detail with respect to the effects of CSF-1 on DNA synthesis and protein turnover and its response to the duration of CSF-1 stimulation. In contrast to previous studies, our results suggest that extended stimulation leads to continuous recruitment of cells competent to reenter the cell cycle. These findings are discussed in terms of growth factor effects on the cell cycle and the usefulness of these cell lines for further study of growth factor signal transduction in macrophages.

Double indirect-immunofluorescent labeling of cultured cells.

Immunofluorescence is a powerful technique for identifying and localizing intra- and extra-cellular components both in histological sections and in cultured cells of plant or animal origin. Briefly, an antibody, raised against a specific component, is used as a label to map the distribution of the component in the specimen, and then visualized under the light microscope using a fluorescent dye (a "fluorochrome") such as rhodamine or fluorescein. These dyes are excited to fluoresce by microscope illumination of the appropriate wavelength. By using fluorochromes that differ both in the wavelength required for excitation and in the color of light emitted, several components can be mapped within the same specimen.

Unidirectional displacement of cells in fibrillar matrices.

It has long been recognised that the alignment of fibrils of an extracellular matrix can guide cell displacement along an axis. However, bidirectional guidance alone is insufficient to explain the directed translocation of cell populations in an embryo. Evidence is presented here that matrix fibrils can also be arranged to confer a unidirectional bias on cell displacement. When chick heart fibroblasts were cultured between two collagen matrices pretreated by shearing, the displacements of these cells were biased in the direction opposite to that of pre-shear. A possible explanation is that cells detect the directional arrangement of fibrils linked to a rigid surface. Results of a second experiment suggested that cells can indeed respond directionally to the linkage of fibrils to rigid surfaces. Cells spreading on the surface of matrices were aligned perpendicular to the edge of a rigid body embedded just beneath the surface. For cells close to this body, the effect of linkage was able to override guidance as the more important orienting cue. 'DESMOTAXIS' is suggested as a suitable name for the unidirectional movement of cells in response to the arrangement of fibrils relative to a rigid, anchoring surface. In the embryo, several factors could generate such arrangements of extracellular matrices around relatively solid structures. These possibilities are discussed with reference to directed cell migrations in vivo.

A simple chamber for observing microscopic specimens in both top and side views.

A method is described which permits the observation of microscopic specimens in both top and side views, a rapid change between the two views being possible without disturbing the specimen. The system requires the introduction of simple optical components into a culture chamber, does not restrict the types of microscopy that may be used, and does not necessitate modification of the microscope itself. The technique is discussed in relation to the study of tissue cells in culture, but may find applications in other areas.

Colony-stimulating factor-1 induces rapid behavioural responses in the mouse macrophage cell line, BAC1.2F5.

The cloned, SV40-immortalized mouse macrophage cell line, BAC1.2F5, resembles primary macrophages in its dependence on colony-stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1) for both viability and proliferation. Re-addition of CSF-1 stimulates rapid, transient behavioural changes in starved cells, which are rounded, with diffusely organized F-actin and few intracellular vesicles. Within 1 min, cells begin to spread, forming prominent, F-actin-rich ruffles. Small vesicles (0.5-1.0 microns), formed throughout extending lamellar processes, move centripetally and, after 3-5 min, fuse to form larger vesicles (2.0-4.0 microns), clustered around the nucleus. Immunofluorescence demonstrates that CSF-1, bound to cell-surface receptors, is internalized via these vesicles. Cell spreading and ruffling peak about 5 min after restimulation. Interference reflection microscopy indicates no corresponding change in the mode of cell-substratum adhesion: a single area of close adhesion underlies most of the cell and simply broadens during spreading. Analysis of cell aggregation kinetics shows no effect of CSF-1 on intercellular adhesiveness. Measurement of cell areas after starvation and restimulation demonstrates quantitatively the time-course and concentration-dependence of cell spreading. Mean area doubles within 5 min and, after a transient peak, decreases within 30 min to the value measured before starvation. This time-course corresponds to that of CSF-1 internalization and of the phosphorylation and subsequent degradation of CSF-1 receptors. The concentration-dependence of the spreading response resembles that of CSF-1-dependent survival and proliferation. The minimum detectable stimulation of spreading occurs at the concentration (22 pM) that supports survival without proliferation. Increasing stimulation of spreading occurs over the range of concentrations that elicit increasing proliferation.

Expression of mRNA for vascular endothelial growth factor in human placenta.

Implantation and growth of the placenta requires extensive angiogenesis to establish the vascular structures involved in exchange. Failure to establish adequate blood supply to the fetus may have serious clinical consequences such as intrauterine growth retardation. Vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) is a recently identified growth factor with significant angiogenic properties. We have demonstrated the presence of four species of mRNA encoding VEGF in both first trimester and term placenta. In situ hybridization was used to localize the sites of expression of VEGF mRNA in these tissues. VEGF expression was seen in villous trophoblast in the first trimester and in extravillous trophoblast at term, and in both fetal macrophages within the villi and maternal macrophages in the decidua. Glandular epithelium in maternal decidua also expressed VEGF mRNA. The strongest site of expression was in maternal macrophages adjacent to Nitabuch's stria, a zone of necrosis at the site of implantation. This complex pattern of expression suggests that VEGF is involved in angiogenesis on both maternal and fetal sides of the placenta and that macrophages are the primary source of VEGF. However, VEGF may also play a role in term placenta, when extensive angiogenesis has diminished, possibly regulating vascular permeability.

Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor localization and activation in human trophoblast and choriocarcinoma cells.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF; also known as vascular permeability factor) is a secreted angiogenic growth factor. It is highly specific for endothelial cells, and its receptor, the fms-like tyrosine kinase (flt), has been localized only to endothelial cells in vivo. Here we describe the expression of mRNA encoding flt in human trophoblast as revealed by in situ hybridization. This mRNA is highly expressed in the cytotrophoblast shell and columns and also highly expressed by the extravillous trophoblast (EVT) in the maternal decidua both in the first trimester and at term. The trophoblast-like choriocarcinoma cell line BeWo also expresses this receptor and the related receptor, kinase domain-containing receptor (KDR), which is also a receptor for VEGF. Treatment of the cell line BeWo with VEGF165 stimulated 3H-thymidine incorporation and tyrosine phosphorylation of MAP (mitogen-activated protein) kinase in a time- and dose-dependent fashion. This study is the first demonstration of the presence of flt on non-endothelial cells in vivo and suggests a role for VEGF in the growth and differentiation of cytotrophoblast at implantation.

Identification and localization of alternately spliced mRNAs for vascular endothelial growth factor in human uterus and estrogen regulation in endometrial carcinoma cell lines.

Repair of human endometrium after menstruation and preparation of the endometrium for implantation involves profound angiogenic changes. Vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) is a recently identified growth factor with significant angiogenic properties. Four species of mRNA encoding VEGFs were identified in human endometrium and myometrium. All species were present throughout the menstrual cycle. Two species, VEGF165 and VEGF121, were present in peripheral leukocytes, indicating tissue-specific splicing of the two other VEGF transcripts. In situ hybridization of mRNA encoding VEGF was not restricted to vascular smooth muscle but was present in epithelial and stromal cells of endometrium throughout the cycle, and the distribution changed during the course of the cycle. All four species of VEGF were expressed by the endometrial carcinoma cell lines Ishikawa, HEC 1-A, and HEC 1-B. Estradiol increased steady-state levels of mRNA encoding VEGF in a dose- and time-dependent manner in HEC 1-A cells. Conditioned medium from these cells possessed angiogenic activity that was depleted by passage through a heparin affinity column. None of the cell lines demonstrated mRNA for acidic or basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF), despite previous reports of the identification of immunoreactive basic FGF in HEC 1-A and HEC 1-B cells. These findings show that VEGFs, not FGFs, are the principal angiogenic growth factors secreted by these cells and that human endometrium expresses a secreted angiogenic growth factor whose site of expression changes during the menstrual cycle.