title: Monitoring functionality and morphology of vasculature recruited by factors secreted by fast-growing tumor-generating cells.
abstract: The subcutaneous matrigel plug assay in mice is a method of choice for the in vivo evaluation of pro- and anti-angiogenic factors. In this method, desired factors are introduced into cold-liquid ECM-mimic gel which, after subcutaneous injection, solidifies to form an environment mimicking the cancer milieu. This matrix permits the penetration of host cells, such as endothelial cells, and therefore, the formation of vasculature. Herein we propose a new modified matrigel plug assay, which can be exploited to illustrate the angiogenic potential of a pool of factors secreted by cancer cells, as opposed to a specific factor (e.g., bFGF and VEGF) or agent. The plug containing ECM-mimic gel is utilized to introduce the host (i.e., mouse) with a pool of factors secreted to the C.M. of fast-growing tumor-generating glioblastoma cells. We have previously described an extensive comparison of the angiogenic potential of U-87 MG human glioblastoma and its dormant-derived clone, in this system model, showing induced angiogenesis in the U-87 MG parental cells. The C.M. is prepared by filtering collected media from confluent tissue culture plates of either cell line following 48 hr incubation. Hence, it contains only factors secreted by the cells, without the cells themselves. Described here is the combination of two imaging modalities, microbubbles contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging and intravital fibered-confocal endomicroscopy, for an accurate, real-time characterization of the extent, morphology and functionality of newly-formed blood vessels within the plugs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University.
authors.forename: Shiran
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ferber
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University.
authors.forename: Galia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tiram
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University; ronitsf@post.tau.ac.il.
authors.forename: Ronit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Satchi-Fainaro
mesh_terms: D042501:Angiogenic Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003094:Collagen; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D004338:Drug Combinations; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D007797:Laminin; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D045423:Microbubbles; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000379:methods*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D011509:Proteoglycans; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D042501:Angiogenic Proteins; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D004338:Drug Combinations; D007797:Laminin; D011509:Proteoglycans; C059485:matrigel; D003094:Collagen