Activated vascular endothelia regulate invasion of glioma cells through expression of fibronectin.
BACKGROUND
Previous researches have indicated that glioma invasion may occur within a tumor-host microecology, and that fibronectin may be involved in glioma invasion as an important component of the extracellular matrix. However, how the interaction between tumor cells and vascular endothelial cells affects glioma invasion is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the interaction between tumor cells and vascular endothelial cells on glioma invasion, and the relationship of this interaction to fibronectin.


METHODS
The localization of fibronectin in different brain astrocytoma tissues was determined by immunohistochemistry. Then, vascular endothelial cells and glioma cells were co-cultured in a Transwell co-culturing system. Fibronectin expression was detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, immunocytochemistry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Additionally, the influence of the interaction between tumor cells and vascular endothelial cells on glioma cell invasion was determined by an in vitro rapid invasion test.


RESULTS
In brain astrocytoma tissues, fibronectin was present on the endothelial cells, in the extracellular matrix. Fibronectin expression was greater in higher grade tumors than in lower grade tumors. The interaction of glioma cells and vascular endothelial cells in vitro induced fibronectin release from vascular endothelial cells, which in turn stimulated glioma cell migration. This effect was inhibited by fibronectin blocking antibody.


CONCLUSIONS
Glioma cells may induce vascular epithelial cells to express fibronectin, and in turn fibronectin could promote glioma cell invasion.
Lin
Zhi-Xiong
ZX
Department of Neurosurgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350005, China. lzx@mail.fjmu.edu.cn
Yang
Li-Juan
LJ
Huang
Qiang
Q
Fu
Jin
J
D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000378:metabolism; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005910:Glioma / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D005353:Fibronectins