Studies of Stroma Formation and Regulation in Human Pathological Conditions and in Experimental in vivo Models

Fibrosis is a sequel of chronic inflammation and is defined as an excessive deposition of collagen that ultimately leads to organ dysfunction. To date there are no effective treatments for fibrosis. The main cell type involved in collagen deposition and organization is the myofibroblast. In the first study we examined how myofibroblasts differentiate in human fibrotic conditions and in experimental animal models. Human tissues were stained with antibodies that recognize integrin receptors and in addition we also stained for α-SMA, a myofibroblast marker. We found a co-localization between these two markers in stromal cells and hypothesized that integrin α1 is important for the acquisition of the myofibroblast phenotype. To tests this hypothesis we used knockout animals for this integrin subunit. These animals showed a reduction of α-SMA positive fibroblasts, indicating that the α1 integrin subunit is required for proper myofibroblast differentiation. In the second study we used a neuroblastoma tumor model to study tumour growth when a drug targeting the synthesis of cellular NAD was administered. In treated animals an expansion of the nonvascular stroma was observed compared to controls. Normalization of the vasculature was observed in treated tumors together with a decrease in hypoxia. Moreover, this was followed by a decrease in stromal PDGF-B and VEGF expression, suggesting a deactivation of the stroma. In the third study the effects of over-expression of the two pro-fibrotic growth factors TGF-β and PDGF-B in skin was evaluated. We observed that both growth factors induced fibrosis. Over time, a decrease in blood vessel density was observed in both treatment groups. Both factors also stimulated an expansion of the connective tissue cell population originating from the microvascular pericyte, but the phenotype of these cells differed in the different treatments with regards to expression of markers. Furthermore, in tissue over-expressing PDGF-B but not TGF-β, the fibrotic process was partially reversible