Infantile Hemangioma Originates From A Dysregulated But Not Fully Transformed Multipotent Stem Cell

Sci Rep. 2016 Oct 27:6:35811. doi: 10.1038/srep35811.

Abstract

Infantile hemangioma (IH) is the most common tumor of infancy. Its cellular origin and biological signals for uncontrolled growth are poorly understood, and specific pharmacological treatment is unavailable. To understand the process of hemangioma-genesis we characterized the progenitor hemangioma-derived stem cell (HemSC) and its lineage and non-lineage derivatives. For this purpose we performed a high-throughput (HT) phenotypic and gene expression analysis of HemSCs, and analyzed HemSC-derived tumorspheres. We found that IH is characterized by high expression of genes involved in vasculogenesis, angiogenesis, tumorigenesis and associated signaling pathways. These results show that IH derives from a dysregulated stem cell that remains in an immature, arrested stage of development. The potential biomarkers we identified can afford the development of diagnostic tools and precision-medicine therapies to "rewire" or redirect cellular transitions at an early stage, such as signaling pathways or immune response modifiers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
  • Endoglin / genetics
  • Endoglin / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Hemangioma / etiology
  • Hemangioma / pathology*
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Multipotent Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Multipotent Stem Cells / pathology*
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / pathology
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / genetics
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • ENG protein, human
  • Endoglin
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta