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1 Integrin Is Essential for Teratoma Growth and Angiogenesis




* Institute for Anatomy, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany; Teratomas are benign tumors that form after
ectopic injection of embryonic stem (ES) cells into mice
and contain derivatives of all primitive germ layers. To
study the role of Normal teratomas had large blood vessels with a
smooth inner surface, containing both host- and ES
cell-derived endothelial cells. In contrast,
Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, 82152 Martinsried, Germany; and § Boehringer Mannheim, 82372 Penzberg, Germany
1 integrin during teratoma formation,
we compared teratomas induced by normal and
1-null
ES cells. Injection of normal ES cells gave rise to large
teratomas. In contrast,
1-null ES cells either did not grow or formed small teratomas with an average weight
of <5% of that of normal teratomas. Histological analysis of
1-null teratomas revealed the presence of various differentiated cells, however, a much lower number
of host-derived stromal cells than in normal teratomas.
Fibronectin, collagen I, and nidogen were expressed but, in contrast to normal teratomas, diffusely deposited
in
1-null teratomas. Basement membranes were present
but with irregular shape and detached from the cell
surface.
1-null teratomas had small vessels that were loosely embedded into
the connective tissue. Furthermore, endothelial cells
were always of host-derived origin and formed blood
vessels with an irregular inner surface. Although
1-
deficient endothelial cells were absent in teratomas,
1-null ES cells could differentiate in vitro into endothelial
cells. The formation of a complex vasculature, however,
was significantly delayed and of poor quality in
1-null embryoid bodies. Moreover, while vascular endothelial
growth factor induced proliferation of endothelial cells
as well as an extensive branching of blood vessels in
normal embryoid bodies, it had no effect in
1-null embryoid bodies.
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