BCL2 expression in CD105 positive neoangiogenic cells and tumor progression in angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma

Mod Pathol. 2012 Jun;25(6):805-14. doi: 10.1038/modpathol.2012.1. Epub 2012 Feb 10.

Abstract

The angiogenic microenvironment has been known to be a component of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma since its initial characterization. We have shown that angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma endothelial cells produce vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGFA), and participate in lymphoma progression. In squamous cell carcinoma, endothelial BCL2 expression induces a crosstalk with tumor cells through VEGFA, a major mediator of tumoral angiogenesis. In the present study, we analyzed BCL2 and VEGFA in 30 angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphomas, using triple immunofluorescence to identify protein coexpression in well-characterized lymphoma cells and microenvironment neoangiogenic endothelial cells. Using quantitative real-time PCR, we assessed mRNA expression levels in laser-microdissected endothelial and lymphoma cells. In lymphoma cells, as in endothelial cells, BCL2 and VEGFA proteins were coexpressed. BCL2 was expressed only in neoangiogenic CD34(+)CD105(+) endothelial cells. In laser-microdissected cells, mRNA studies showed a significant relationship between BCL2 and VEGFA levels in CD34(+) endothelial cells, but not in CD3(+)CD10(+)lymphoma cells, or in CD34(+) endothelial cells from lymph node hyperplasia. Further study showed that, in AITL, BCL2 mRNA levels in CD34(+)CD105(+) neoangiogenic endothelial cells also correlated with microvessel density, International Prognostic Index, Ann Arbor stage, bone marrow involvement and elevated LDH. BCL2 expression by CD105(+) neoangiogenic endothelial cells is related to tumor progression in angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antigens, CD / analysis*
  • Antigens, CD34 / analysis
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis*
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Chi-Square Distribution
  • Disease Progression
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Endoglin
  • Endothelial Cells / chemistry*
  • Endothelial Cells / immunology
  • Endothelial Cells / pathology
  • Female
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Humans
  • Immunoblastic Lymphadenopathy / genetics
  • Immunoblastic Lymphadenopathy / immunology
  • Immunoblastic Lymphadenopathy / metabolism*
  • Immunoblastic Lymphadenopathy / mortality
  • Immunoblastic Lymphadenopathy / pathology
  • Immunoblastic Lymphadenopathy / therapy
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Laser Capture Microdissection
  • Lymph Nodes / blood supply
  • Lymph Nodes / chemistry*
  • Lymph Nodes / immunology
  • Lymph Nodes / pathology
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell / chemistry*
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell / genetics
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell / immunology
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell / mortality
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell / pathology
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell / therapy
  • Male
  • Microvessels / chemistry*
  • Microvessels / immunology
  • Microvessels / pathology
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic
  • Paris
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / analysis*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / analysis
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / analysis*
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Tumor Microenvironment
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / analysis
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / genetics

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Antigens, CD34
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • ENG protein, human
  • Endoglin
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • VEGFA protein, human
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A