What brings pericytes to tumor vessels?
J. Clin. Invest. Rakesh K. Jain, et al. 112:1134 doi:10.1172/JCI20087 [
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Figure 1MC recruitment to tumor vessels depends on a putative gradient of PDGFB. (
a) PDGFB, secreted by an EC tube, has higher concentration near the tube, as shown in the small graphs. (
b) Normally, MCs, which express PDGFR-β, sense the PDGFB concentration gradient and move in to closely contact the ECs. (The basement membrane is not shown.) (
c) If MCs do not express PDGFR-β, then they are not recruited. (
d) Modifying PDGFB to remove its matrix retention eliminates the PDGFB concentration gradient and results in poor EC-MC contact. (
e) If tumor cells express PDGFB, the PDGFB concentration in the tumor overwhelms the peri-EC gradient and EC-MC contact remains poor. (
f) Perivascular cells expressing GFP under the control of the VEGF promoter surround vessels in the tumor interior. The image was obtained using a two-photon microscope. Orange, vessel lumens; green, MCs. Panel
f is reproduced with permission from
Nature Medicine (
8).
