title: Tumor-associated macrophages promote angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis of gastric cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was conducted to investigate whether and how macrophages recruited to tumor microenvironments (tumor-associated macrophages, TAMs) were involved in angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis of gastric cancer (GC).
  
  
  METHODS
  TAMs, microvessel density (MVD), and lymphatic vessel density (LVD) in 115 cases of GC tissue were assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining of CD68, CD34, and D2-40, respectively. Preoperative blood samples from 43 patients were obtained to detect serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF-C. A co-culture system was also developed to study effects and underlying mechanisms of THP-1 macrophages on SGC7901 GC cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TAMs numbers were closely related to serosa invasion, lymph node metastasis and tumor, nodes, and metastases stage and a positive correlation existed between the TAMs count and MVD and LVD. Additionally, TAMs were associated with preoperative serum levels of VEGF and VEGF-C, the expression of VEGF and VEGF-C protein in macrophages was up-regulated in the co-culture system, and inhibition of the NF-κB pathway in macrophages induced a significant reduction in the expression of VEGF and VEGF-C in both macrophages and GC cells (all P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TAMs may promote angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis of GC, possibly by enhancing VEGF and VEGF-C expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Jian-Bo
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yu-Long
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Jian-Jun
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Xin-Hua
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Chuang-Qi
authors.initials: CQ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Shi-Rong
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Cai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D042583:Lymphangiogenesis; D008264:Macrophages / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000502:physiology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000209:etiology*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D016328:NF-kappa B; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C