title: VEGF-D is expressed in activated lymphoid cells and in tumors of hematopoietic and lymphoid tissues.
abstract: Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF)-D is a member of the VEGF family of angiogenic growth factors that activate the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor (VEGFR)-2 and VEGFR-3, which are mainly expressed in blood and lymphatic vessels. Here we have analyzed by using monoclonal antibodies, the expression of VEGF-D and its cognate receptor VEGFR-3 in normal and pathologic bone marrow and lymph node biopsies. This analysis revealed that VEGF-D is expressed in B cells of the germinal centers, scattered B and T blasts, myeloid progenitors, acute leukemia, several types of non Hodgkin lymphoma, and classical Hodgkin's lymphoma. In normal tissues VEGFR-3 was only expressed in fenestrated capillaries of bone marrow and in lymphatic vessels of lymph nodes, while in VEGF-D expressing tumors newly formed vessels, but not malignant cells, showed high VEGFR-3 expression. These data suggest that VEGF-D could contribute to leukemia and lymphoma growth via the induction of angiogenesis in bone marrow and lymphoid tissues.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Monia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bardelli
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Leucci
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schürfeld
authors.forename: Cristiana
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bellan
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Passiatore
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rocchigiani
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bartolommei
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Orlandini
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zagursky
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lazzi
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Falco
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tosi
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oliviero
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Leoncini
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000737:chemistry; D001706:Biopsy; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D015973:Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D018922:HL-60 Cells; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D020014:K562 Cells; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D042643:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D040321:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D042643:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2; D040321:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3