Flt-1 signaling in macrophages promotes glioma growth in vivo

Cancer Res. 2008 Sep 15;68(18):7342-51. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-07-6241.

Abstract

Several lines of evidence indicate that Flt-1, a fms-like tyrosine kinase receptor, which binds to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A, VEGF-B, and PlGF, is a positive regulator of angiogenesis in the context of tumor growth and metastasis. However, the molecular basis of its action is still not clear. Besides endothelial cells, Flt-1 is also expressed by other different cell types, including myeloid hematopoeitic cells (monocytes and macrophages). To examine the functions of Flt-1 expressed by bone marrow-derived myeloid cells in supporting tumor growth and angiogenesis, Flt-1 tyrosine kinase-deficient (Flt-1 TK-/-) bone marrow cells were transplanted into lethally irradiated syngeneic recipients. After hematopoietic reconstitution, we orthotopically implanted syngeneic wild-type glioma cells or glioma cells overexpressing either VEGF(164) or PlGF-2. Loss of Flt-1 signaling in bone marrow-derived myeloid cells led to a significant decrease in tumor volume and vascularization in gliomas. VEGF but not PlGF overexpressed by glioma cells restored the tumor growth rate in Flt-1 TK-/- bone marrow chimera. VEGF and PlGF overexpression by tumor cells induced an accumulation of bone marrow-derived myeloid cells into tumor tissue. This infiltration was decreased in tumors grown in Flt-1 TK-/- bone marrow chimeras. When investigating chemokines and growth factors involved in myeloid cell recruitment, we determined elevated SDF-1/CXCL12 levels in VEGF- and PlGF-overexpressing tumors. Collectively, these results suggest that Flt-1 signaling in myeloid cells is essential to amplify the angiogenic response and to promote glioma growth.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Marrow Cells / enzymology
  • Bone Marrow Cells / pathology
  • Capillary Permeability / physiology
  • Cell Growth Processes / physiology
  • Chemokine CXCL12 / biosynthesis
  • Chimera / metabolism
  • Glioma / blood supply
  • Glioma / enzymology*
  • Glioma / metabolism
  • Glioma / pathology*
  • Macrophages / enzymology*
  • Macrophages / pathology
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Myeloid Cells / pathology
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / enzymology
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / metabolism
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / pathology
  • Proteins / genetics
  • Proteins / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Transfection
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / biosynthesis
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / metabolism*

Substances

  • Chemokine CXCL12
  • Cxcl12 protein, mouse
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Pigf protein, mouse
  • Proteins
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Flt1 protein, mouse
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1