Bone marrow angiogenesis and plasma cell angiogenic and invasive potential in patients with active multiple myeloma

Factor VIII-related antigen-positive microvessel areas were measured by both immunohistochemistry and computerized image analysis in patients with active multiple myeloma (MM), nonactive MM and monoclonal gammopathies of undetermined significance (MGUS). A 5- to 6-fold larger area was found in patients with active MM compared to the other two groups. The conditioned medium (CM) of their bone marrow plasma cells stimulated endothelial cell proliferation and chemotaxis, monocyte chemotaxis and angiogenesis in vivo [chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) system] more strongly and frequently than the CM of patients with nonactive MM and MGUS. An immunoassay of plasma cell lysates gave significantly higher levels of fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) in patients with active MM than in the other two groups, and a neutralizing anti-FGF-2 antibody inhibited by 54-68% the biological activity exerted by the CM in vitro and in the CAM. In situ hybridization of bone marrow plasma cells and gelatin zymography of CM showed that patients with active MM express higher levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) mRNA and protein than those with nonactive MM and MGUS, whereas MMP-9 expression and secretion overlapped in all groups. Overall data suggest that patients with active MM represent the vascular phase of plasma cell tumors that is triggered by bone marrow plasma cells, at least partly, through FGF-2 and MMP-2. Both angiogenesis and MMP-2 secretion can account for intramedullary and extramedullary spreading of plasma cells during the active MM.