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Effect of tissue factor deficiency on mouse and tumor development
J R Toomey1, K E Kratzer, N M Lasky
1Division of Hematology, Washington University School of Medicine, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
Summary
Tissue factor (TF) is not essential for embryonic vascular development or tumor angiogenesis. TF-deficient embryos that survive to birth appear normal, and tumors grow and vascularize similarly regardless of TF presence.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Oncology
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- Tissue factor (TF) is implicated in embryonic vascular development and tumor angiogenesis.
- Previous studies suggest a potentially crucial role for TF in these processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of TF in embryonic vascular development.
- To analyze the impact of TF deficiency on teratoma and teratocarcinoma growth and vascularity.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of TF-deficient embryos (TF null) on a 129/Sv and a mixed 129/Sv x C57BL/6 genetic background.
- Morphological assessment of late-gestation TF-deficient embryos.
- Evaluation of teratoma and teratocarcinoma growth and vascularization in TF(+/+), TF(+/-), and TF(-/-) models.
Main Results:
- TF null embryos on a 129/Sv background exhibit mid-gestation lethality.
- A subset (14%) of TF-deficient embryos on a mixed genetic background survive to birth and appear morphologically normal.
- Teratoma and teratocarcinoma growth and vascularity were indistinguishable between TF-deficient and wild-type littermates.
Conclusions:
- Embryonic vascular development does not strictly require tissue factor for survival to birth in certain genetic backgrounds.
- Tumor-derived tissue factor is not essential for tumor growth or angiogenesis.
- The findings do not support a critical role for TF in embryonic vascular development or tumor angiogenesis.