Antitumoral Effect of Mural Cells Assessed With High-Resolution MRI and Fluorescence Microscopy.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

The purpose of this study was to detect labeled mural cells in vivo and study their therapeutic effect on tumor growth and on functional changes in the vascular network by use of MRI and fibered confocal fluorescence microscopy (FCFM).

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Twenty-eight mice were allocated to the following three groups 7 days after injection of TC1 tumor cells (C157 black 6): control, no injection (n = 7); sham, injection of phosphate-buffered saline solution (n = 10); and treated, injection of human mural cells (n = 11). Tumor growth was measured with calipers. Labeled mural cells were tracked with high-resolution MRI and FCFM. Microvessel density was assessed with MRI and FCFM, and the findings were compared with the histologic results.

RESULTS:

Tumor growth was significantly slowed in the treated group starting on day 10 (p = 0.001). Round signal-intensity voids were observed in the center of six of seven tumors treated with magnetically labeled mural cells. Positive staining for iron was observed in histologic sections of two of five of these tumors. Microvessel density measured with FCFM was greater in the treated mice (p = 0.03). Flow cytometry revealed viable human mural cells only in treated tumors.

CONCLUSION:

In this study, imaging techniques such as high-resolution MRI and FCFM showed the therapeutic effect of mural cell injection on tumor growth and microvessel function.

• Authors: Nathalie Faye, Laure Fournier, Daniel Balvay, Claire Wilhelm, Dong Broqueres-You, Patrick Bruneval, Olivier Clément
• Journal: AJR. American journal of roentgenology (AJR Am J Roentgenol) Vol. 205 Issue 1 Pg. W11-8 (Jul 2015) ISSN: 1546-3141 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 26102408 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Contrast Media

Topics

• Animals
• Cells, Cultured
• Contrast Media (administration & dosage)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Flow Cytometry
• Humans
• Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (methods)
• Mice
• Microcirculation
• Microscopy, Confocal
• Neovascularization, Pathologic (pathology)
• Pericytes (physiology)
• Tumor Cells, Cultured