Schwann cell-conditioned medium inhibits angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo

✍ Scribed by Huang, Donghui ;Rutkowski, J. Lynn ;Brodeur, Garrett M. ;Chou, Pauline M. ;Kwiatkowski, Janet L. ;Babbo, Angela ;Cohn, Susan L.

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2000
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 121 KB
• Volume: 35
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0098-1532
• DOI: 10.1002/1096-911x(20001201)35:6<590::aid-mpo21>3.0.co;2-o

✦ Synopsis

Background:

Neuroblastomas are biologically heterogeneous tumors that consist of two main cell populations: neuroblastic/ganglionic cells and schwann cells. the amount of schwannian stroma strongly impacts prognosis. low tumor vascularity, localized stage, and favorable outcome are associated with tumors that are schwannian stroma-rich/stroma-dominant.

Procedure:

To investigate if schwann cells play a role in inhibiting angiogenesis in neuroblastoma tumors, we examined the ability of human schwann cell-conditioned medium to affect bfgf- and vegf-induced endothelial cell proliferation and migration, and in vivo angiogenesis.

Results:

Schwann cell-conditioned medium significantly inhibited bfgf- and vegf-induced endothelial cell proliferation and migration. this effect appears to be specific for endothelial cells as smooth muscle cell and fibroblast proliferation were not inhibited by this medium. schwann cell-conditioned medium also inhibited in vivo angiogenesis in rat corneal assays.

Conclusions:

Schwann cells produce a potent inhibitor(s) of angiogenesis that may be responsible for the low level of vascularity and more benign clinical behavior of schwannian stroma-rich/stroma-dominant neuroblastoma tumors. studies to identify the inhibitor(s) are ongoing.