title: Expression of integrin alpha v beta 3 in small blood vessels of glioblastoma tumors.
abstract: Angiogenesis, which promotes tumor proliferation and invasiveness, is mediated by integrin-dependent cell adhesion mechanisms and requires expression of integrin alpha v beta 3. To determine whether integrin alpha v beta 3 is expressed in the small blood vessel hyperplasia characteristic of glioblastoma tumors, we explored the mRNA and protein expression of integrin alpha v, beta 3, beta 5, and beta 1 subunits in small blood vessels in gliomas of various grades and nontumorous brain biopsies. Antisense beta 3 and beta 5 riboprobes hybridized to small blood vessels (endothelial and adjacent mesenchymal cells) in 11 of 11 glioblastomas and 2 of 4 anaplastic astrocytomas, but failed to hybridize to small blood vessels in 12 non-neoplastic specimens and 4 low-grade astrocytomas. In contrast, antisense alpha v and beta 1 riboprobes hybridized to small blood vessels in all of the biopsies. The expression of integrin alpha v beta 3 protein in these vessels was determined by immunohistochemical analysis using anti-integrin subunit-specific antibodies. The findings were similar to those obtained using in situ hybridization: beta 3 subunit protein was detected on small blood vessels in 9 of 12 glioblastoma and 2 of 4 anaplastic astrocytomas, whereas it was not detected in small blood vessels of 10 non-neoplastic brains and 4 low-grade astrocytomas. In contrast, the alpha v and beta 1 subunit proteins were detected in small blood vessels in all of the brain biopsies, whereas the beta 5 subunit protein could not be detected. These data suggest that integrin alpha v beta 3 is expressed in small blood vessels of glioblastoma tumors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham 35294, USA.
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Gladson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000378:metabolism; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D019030:Receptors, Vitronectin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019030:Receptors, Vitronectin