Evidence of a bi-phasic effect of thrombospondin-1 on angiogenesis

Katsumi Motegi, Koji Harada, Sima Pazouki, Robin Baillie, Ana M. Schor

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    26 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Contradictory results have been reported regarding the association between vascularity (used as an index of angiogenesis) and thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) in human tumours. In previous studies, the reported association was based on the estimated average TSP-1 value per tumour, with a sufficient number of specimens collectively analysed per tumour type. Given the extent of intra-tumour heterogeneity, we determined the association between TSP-1 and vascularity within individual specimens, based on the average values of TSP-1 and vascularity in 10–20 pre-selected areas per tumour. Cells expressing TSP-1 mRNA were visualised by in situ hybridisation and quantified by point counting. Vascularity was quantified by point counting and vessel density of von Willebrand Factor-positive vessels. In 10 ductal breast carcinomas, a direct correlation between TSP-1 and vascularity was found in 4 tumours, no correlation in 3 and an inverse correlation in 3. The effect of TSP-1 on endothelial cell migration in vitro was assessed in the Boyden chamber assay. TSP-1 stimulated cell migration at low concentrations (0.1–10?µg/ml) and was inhibitory at high concentrations (25–100?µg/ml). These results suggest that TSP-1 may elicit a concentration-dependent, bi-phasic, effect on angiogenesis.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)411-421
    Number of pages11
    JournalHistochemical Journal
    Volume34
    Issue number8-9
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Sept 2002

    Keywords

    • Endothelial Cell Migration
    • Boyden Chamber Assay
    • Calibration Slide
    • Endothelial Cell Heterogeneity
    • Stromal Index

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