TY - JOUR
T1 - Von Hippel-Lindau disease-associated hemangioblastomas are derived from embryologic multipotent cells
AU - Park, Deric M.
AU - Zhuang, Zhengping
AU - Chen, Ling
AU - Szerlip, Nicholas
AU - Maric, Irina
AU - Li, Jie
AU - Sohn, Taesung
AU - Kim, Stephanie H.
AU - Lubensky, Irina A.
AU - Vortmeyer, Alexander O.
AU - Rodgers, Griffin P.
AU - Oldfield, Edward H.
AU - Lonser, Russell R.
PY - 2007/2
Y1 - 2007/2
N2 - Background: To determine the origin of the neoplastic cell in central nervous system (CNS) hemangioblastomas in von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL) and its role in tumor formation and distribution, we characterized and differentiated neoplastic cells from hemangioblastomas removed from VHL patients. Methods and Findings: A total of 31 CNS hemangioblastomas from 25 VHL patients were resected and analyzed. Tumor cells from the hemangioblastomas were characterized, grown, and differentiated into multiple lineages. Resected hemangioblastomas were located in the cerebellum (11 tumors), brainstem (five tumors), and spinal cord (15 tumors). Consistent with an embryologically derived hemangioblast, the neoplastic cells demonstrated coexpression of the mesodermal markers brachyury, Flk-1 (vascular endothelial growth factor-2), and stem cell leukemia (Scl). The neoplastic cells also expressed hematopoietic stem cell antigens and receptors including CD133, CD34, c-kit, Scl, erythropoietin, and erythropoietin receptor. Under specific microenvironments, neoplastic cells (hemangioblasts) were expanded and differentiated into erythrocytic, granulocytic, and endothelial progenitors. Deletion of the wild-type VHL allele in the hematopoietic and endothelial progeny confirmed their neoplastic origin. Conclusions: The neoplastic cell of origin for CNS hemangioblastomas in VHL patients is the mesodermderived, embryologically arrested hemangioblast. The hematopoietic and endothelial differentiation potential of these cells can be reactivated under suitable conditions. These findings may also explain the unique tissue distribution of tumor involvement.
AB - Background: To determine the origin of the neoplastic cell in central nervous system (CNS) hemangioblastomas in von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL) and its role in tumor formation and distribution, we characterized and differentiated neoplastic cells from hemangioblastomas removed from VHL patients. Methods and Findings: A total of 31 CNS hemangioblastomas from 25 VHL patients were resected and analyzed. Tumor cells from the hemangioblastomas were characterized, grown, and differentiated into multiple lineages. Resected hemangioblastomas were located in the cerebellum (11 tumors), brainstem (five tumors), and spinal cord (15 tumors). Consistent with an embryologically derived hemangioblast, the neoplastic cells demonstrated coexpression of the mesodermal markers brachyury, Flk-1 (vascular endothelial growth factor-2), and stem cell leukemia (Scl). The neoplastic cells also expressed hematopoietic stem cell antigens and receptors including CD133, CD34, c-kit, Scl, erythropoietin, and erythropoietin receptor. Under specific microenvironments, neoplastic cells (hemangioblasts) were expanded and differentiated into erythrocytic, granulocytic, and endothelial progenitors. Deletion of the wild-type VHL allele in the hematopoietic and endothelial progeny confirmed their neoplastic origin. Conclusions: The neoplastic cell of origin for CNS hemangioblastomas in VHL patients is the mesodermderived, embryologically arrested hemangioblast. The hematopoietic and endothelial differentiation potential of these cells can be reactivated under suitable conditions. These findings may also explain the unique tissue distribution of tumor involvement.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33847631722&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1371/journal.pmed.0040060
DO - 10.1371/journal.pmed.0040060
M3 - Article
C2 - 17298169
AN - SCOPUS:33847631722
SN - 1549-1277
VL - 4
SP - 333
EP - 341
JO - PLoS medicine
JF - PLoS medicine
IS - 2
ER -