Role of viral induced vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) production in pleural effusion and malignant mesothelioma
Tuesday, November 11th, 2008.
Cell Biology International. 2009 Feb;33(2):180-6. Epub 2008 Nov 1. [Link]
Wörnle M, Sauter M, Kastenmüller K, Ribeiro A, Roeder M, Mussack T, Ladurner R, Sitter T.
Medical Policlinic, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany. markus.woernle@med.uni-muenchen.de
Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a key role in formation of pleural effusions and in tumorigenesis and progression of malignant mesothelioma. Mesothelial cells (MC) express the viral receptors Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3), RIG-I and MDA5. Activation of these receptors by viral RNA exemplified by poly(I:C) RNA leads to a time- and dose-dependent increase of mesothelial VEGF synthesis. To show the specific effect of viral receptors knockdown experiments with siRNA for TLR3, RIG-I and MDA5 were performed. This finding of viral induced mesothelial VEGF synthesis may indicate a novel link between viral infections and formation of pleural effusions and progression of malignant mesothelioma.
Keywords: Malignant mesothelioma; MDA5; RIG-I; Toll-like receptor 3; VEGF
Glossary
- cell
- the basic unit of which all living things are made. Cells replace themselves by splitting and forming new cells (mitosis). The processes that control the formation of new cells and the death of old cells are disrupted in cancer.
- mesothelioma
- a tumor derived from mesothelial tissue, such as the peritoneum (lining the abdomen) or pleura (lining the lungs). More on mesothelioma.
- tumorigenesis
- production or formation of tumors.
