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Morphometry and mathematical modelling of the capillary-like patterns formed in vitro by bone marrow macrophages of patients with multiple myeloma

Leukemia volume 21, pages 2201–2203 (2007)Cite this article

Bone marrow angiogenesis is a constant hallmark of multiple myeloma (MM) progression.1 Plasma cells are seen as primary inducers of this process because they secrete major angiogenic factors, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), fibroblast growth factor-2 and matrix metalloproteinases. Stromal cells behave as secondary inducers following recruitment and activation by plasma cells.2 In particular, bone marrow endothelial cells from patients with multiple myeloma (MMEC) were shown to actively contribute to their own expansion and angiogenesis through an autocrine loop of growth in which VEGF is highly coexpressed with its cognate receptors.3

The aim of the present study was to further investigate the vasculogenic potential of bone marrow multiple myeloma macrophages (MMMA) of patients with MM by testing them in vitro in the Matrigel assay and by using quantitative, morphometric methods to compare the patterns they formed with those generated by their endothelial counterpart. Moreover, a mathematical model of the self-assembly of the cells was elaborated to characterize the relationship between a set of cellular and biochemical parameters and the structure of the patterns formed by MMMA in vitro.

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Acknowledgements

Our studies were supported by Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro (AIRC, National and Regional Funds), Milan; Ministry for Education, the Universities and Research (FIRB 2001 and PRIN 2005), Rome; and Fondazione Italiana per la Lotta al Neuroblastoma, Genoa, Italy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Anatomy and Physiology, Section of Anatomy, University of Padua Medical School, Padua, Italy

    D Guidolin, A S Belloni & G G Nussdorfer

  2. Department of Human Anatomy and Histology, University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy

    B Nico & D Ribatti

  3. Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Section of Internal Medicine and Clinical Oncology, University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy

    A Vacca

Authors
  1. D Guidolin
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  2. B Nico
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  3. A S Belloni
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  4. G G Nussdorfer
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  5. A Vacca
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  6. D Ribatti
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Correspondence to D Ribatti.

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Guidolin, D., Nico, B., Belloni, A. et al. Morphometry and mathematical modelling of the capillary-like patterns formed in vitro by bone marrow macrophages of patients with multiple myeloma. Leukemia 21, 2201–2203 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.leu.2404771

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