Intussusceptive microvascular growth in human glioma.
Intussusceptive microvascular growth (IMG), which occurs by splitting of the existing vasculature by transluminal pillars or transendothelial bridges, has been demonstrated in several tumors such as colon and mammary carcinomas, melanoma and B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. In this study, we have correlated in human glioma the extent of angiogenesis, evaluated as microvascular density, the immunoreactivity of tumor cells to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), vessel diameter and IMG to the tumor stage. Results demonstrate for the first time a relationship in human glioma progression between angiogenesis, VEGF immunoreactivity of tumor cells, vessel diameter and the number of connections of intraluminal tissue folds with the opposite vascular wall, expression of IMG and suggest that IMG could be a mechanism of compensatory vascular growth occurring in human glioma. The advantages are that (1) blood vessels are generated more rapidly; (2) it is energetically and metabolically more economic; (3) the capillaries thereby formed are less leaky.
Nico
Beatrice
B
Department of Human Anatomy and Histology, University of Bari Medical School, Piazza G. Cesare, 11, Policlinico, 70124 Bari, Italy.
Crivellato
Enrico
E
Guidolin
Diego
D
Annese
Tiziana
T
Longo
Vito
V
Finato
Nicoletta
N
Vacca
Angelo
A
Ribatti
Domenico
D
D005910:Glioma / Q000473:pathology*; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008853:Microscopy; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A