Multiple microvascular alterations in pancreatic islets and neuroendocrine tumors of a Men1 mouse model

Vascular therapeutic targeting requires thorough evaluation of the mechanisms activated in the specific context of each particular tumor type. We highlight structural, molecular, and functional microvascular aberrations contributing to development and maintenance of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), with special reference to multiple endocrine neoplasia 1 (MEN1) syndrome, using a Men1 mouse model. Tissue samples were analyzed by immunofluorescence to detect vessel density and pericyte distribution within the endocrine pancreas; expression of angiogenic factors was assessed by immunohistochemistry and quantitative real-time PCR in isolated islets and adenomas cultured under normoxic or hypoxic conditions. The increased vascular density of pancreatic NETs developed in Men1 mice was paralleled by an early and extensive redistribution of pericytes within endocrine tissue. These morphological alterations are supported by, and in some cases preceded by, fine-tuned variations in expression of several angiogenic regulators and are further potentiated by hypoxia. By combining two novel ex vivo and in vivo single-islet and tumor perfusion techniques, we demonstrated that both vascular reactivity and blood perfusion of tumor arterioles are significantly altered in response to glucose and L-nitro-arginine methyl ester. Our findings unravel multiple potential molecular and physiological targets differentially activated in the endocrine pancreas of Men1 mice and highlight the need for in-depth functional studies to fully understand the contribution of each component to development of pancreatic NETs in MEN1 syndrome.