Iron induces Bcl-2 expression in human dermal microvascular endothelial cells |
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| Authors: | Thierry Simonart Chantale Degraef Patrick Stordeur Jean-Christophe Noel Roger Mosselmans Jean-Paul Van Vooren |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Dermatology, Erasme University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium;2. Department of Immunology, Erasme University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium;3. Department of Pathology, Erasme University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium;4. Department of Internal Medicine, Erasme University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium;5. Laboratory of Cytology and Experimental Cancerology, Free University of Brussels, Brussels, Belgium;6. Department of Renal and Infectious Diseases, Algemeen Ziekenhuis Sint Jan, Bruges, Belgium |
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| Abstract: | Iron is suspected to be involved in the induction and/or progression of various human tumors. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of iron on endothelial cells, keeping in mind that the homeostasis of microvessels plays a critical role in neo-angiogenesis. Applying a model of human dermal microvascular endothelial cell terminal differentiation and death induced by serum deprivation, we found that iron salts (iron chloride and ferric nitrilotriacetate) provided a survival advantage to endothelial cells. Using immunohistochemistry and Western Blot analysis, we found that the extended cellular life span induced by iron was paralleled by an increase of Bcl-2 protein expression. Taken together, these observations suggest that iron may give a survival advantage to endothelial cells and represent a novel mechanism through which iron may contribute to tumorigenesis. |
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| Keywords: | bcl-2 cancer human dermal microvascular endothelial cells iron tumor |
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