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. 2002 May;160(5):1639–1645. doi: 10.1016/S0002-9440(10)61111-X

Increased Angiogenesis in the Bone Marrow of Patients with Systemic Mastocytosis

Friedrich Wimazal *, John-Hendrik Jordan *, Wolfgang R Sperr *, Andreas Chott †, Sana Dabbass *, Klaus Lechner *, Hans P Horny ‡, Peter Valent *
PMCID: PMC1850883  PMID: 12000716

Abstract

Recent data suggest that angiogenesis in the bone marrow (BM) is augmented and associated with growth of neoplastic cells in various hematological malignancies. Systemic mastocytosis (SM) is a neoplasm affecting multilineage and mast cell (MC)-committed hemopoietic progenitors. In the present study, we have assessed the BM microvessel density (MVD) by CD34 immunohistochemistry in 21 patients with SM, 5 with cutaneous mastocytosis (no BM infiltrates), and 5 control cases (normal BM). The median BM MVD was significantly higher in SM compared to cutaneous mastocytosis or controls (P < 0.05). In addition, a significant correlation (r = 0.74) between the BM MVD and grade of MC infiltration (percent tryptase+ BM infiltrates) was found in SM. Moreover, the MVD was higher in MC infiltrates compared to the nonaffected adjacent marrow (P < 0.05). Immunohistochemical staining revealed expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in MC infiltrates. The notion that SM is associated with increased BM angiogenesis and vascular endothelial growth factor expression may have implications for the biology of disease and development of new treatment strategies.

Mastocytosis is a term used for a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by abnormal growth and accumulation of mast cells (MCs) in one or more organs. 1-4 Cutaneous mastocytosis (CM) is commonly diagnosed in childhood and has a favorable prognosis. 5 In a high percentage of cases with pediatric CM, spontaneous regression is found. Systemic mastocytosis (SM) can develop at any age and is characterized by multiorgan involvement and disease persistence. 1-4 In most SM patients, somatic mutations in the kinase domain of c-kit are detectable. 6-8

The majority of patients with SM show an indolent clinical course throughout decades. 1-4 However, in a smaller subset, progression to aggressive or even leukemic disease is seen. 1-4,9-12 These patients acquire organopathy caused by progressive MC infiltrates in diverse organs such as the bone marrow (BM), liver, or skeletal system. 9-14 The factors that contribute to the progression of SM, however, have not yet been defined.

Recent data suggest that angiogenesis contributes to the viability and growth of neoplastic cells in various malignancies. 15-17 The angiogenic growth factors involved are produced by tumor cells or accessory cells. 16,17 One of the most important angiogenic growth factors involved in tumor angiogenesis seems to be vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). 16,17

So far, angiogenesis has mainly been described for solid tumors. 16-18 More recently, however, increased neoangiogenesis has also been described for various hematological malignancies such as acute or chronic myeloid leukemias. 19-22 The aims of the present study were to measure BM angiogenesis in patients with SM and to correlate the microvessel density (MVD) with well-established markers of disease.

Patients and Methods

Patients and Staging Investigations

Twenty-one patients with SM, 5 with CM [subtype, urticaria pigmentosa (UP)], and 5 control cases (no hematological neoplasm) were examined. Mastocytosis was diagnosed according to established criteria. 23 In the SM group, 17 patients had indolent SM, 3 slowly progressing, smoldering SM, and 1 aggressive SM. Patients with an associated clonal hematological non-MC lineage disease were excluded. Staging investigations included physical examination, ultrasound (spleen), X-ray of bones, BM examination, blood picture and chemistry, and measurement of total (α/β) tryptase levels by fluoroenzyme immunoassay (Pharmacia, Uppsala, Sweden). Histamine levels were measured by commercial radioimmunoassay (Immunotech, Marseille, France). Informed consent was obtained in each case. The patients’ characteristics and clinical findings are shown in Table 1 ▶ . Laboratory parameters are depicted in Tables 2 and 3 ▶ ▶ .

Table 1.

Patients’ Characteristics, Clinical Findings, and Disease-Related Symptoms: Comparison with BM MVD

No. Diagnosis Sex Age at onset of disease UP-like skin lesions Flush Vascular instability GI-ulcer Palpable spleno-megaly Osteolysis Mean MVD MV/field Mean MVD in infiltrate MV/field
01 ASM m 22 No No Yes Yes No Yes 13.3 35.8
02 ISM f 30 Yes Yes Yes No No No 07.1 23.6
03 ISM f 26 Yes No No No No No 10.4 19.2
04 ISM f 36 Yes No No No No No 43.4 55.2
05 ISM m 20 Yes No No No No No 11.8 25.8
06 ISM m 33 Yes No No No No No 21.2 29.2
07 ISM f 32 Yes No No No No No 12.3 33.6
08 ISM m 48 Yes No No n.k. No n.k. 01.5 08.3
09 ISM f 33 Yes No No No No No 07.9 16.4
10 ISM f 13 Yes No No No No No 13.7 38.2
11 ISM f 20 Yes No No No No No 12.4 18.8
12 ISM f 21 Yes Yes No Yes No No 20.6 45.0
13 ISM m 44 Yes Yes Yes No No No 19.4 42.0
14 ISM m 28 Yes No No No No n.k. 10.5 28.8
15 ISM m 61 Yes Yes No No Yes No 07.0 24.3
16 ISM m 54 Yes No Yes No No No 01.9 07.0
17 ISM f 27 Yes Yes Yes Yes No No 32.6 92.4
18 ISM f 50 Yes No No n.k. No No 02.5 08.7
19 SSM f 01 Yes No No No Yes n.k. 23.7 36.9
20 SSM f 21 Yes Yes Yes No Yes No 26.1 43.2
21 SSM m 20 Yes No Yes No No No 30.9 68.7
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ASM, aggressive systemic mastocytosis; ISM, indolent systemic mastocytosis; SSM, smoldering systemic mastocytosis; UP, urticaria pigmentosa; GI, gastrointestinal; MV, microvessel; n.k., not known; m, male; f, female.

Table 2.

Bone Marrow Findings and Hematologic Parameters: Comparison with MVD

No. Diagnosis % MC in BM section % MC in BM smears WBC, ×109/L ANC, ×109/L Eo, % Ba, % Hb, g/dL plt, 109/L Mean MVD MV/field Mean MVD in infiltrate MV/field
01 ASM 05 1 4.3 1.2 1 0 12.2 208 13.3 35.8
02 ISM 20 1 7.4 5.4 1 0 13.2 269 07.1 23.6
03 ISM 10 1 8.9 6.8 0 0 13.6 301 10.4 19.2
04 ISM 65 2.5 4.9 2.8 0 0 13.1 280 43.4 55.2
05 ISM 15 1 8.4 5.9 2 0 15.6 341 11.8 25.8
06 ISM 25 1 6.0 3.7 3 0 13.8 220 21.2 29.2
07 ISM 15 <1 7.4 4.7 1 0 12.7 272 12.3 33.6
08 ISM 05 <1 7.0 4.0 2 1 14.0 197 01.5 08.3
09 ISM 10 <1 6.2 3.7 0 1 13.2 174 07.9 16.4
10 ISM 30 1.5 7.0 4.9 0 0 12.5 320 13.7 38.2
11 ISM 01 <1 6.6 3.2 3 0 13.6 256 12.4 18.8
12 ISM 05 1 5.1 3.1 2 0 12.4 205 20.6 45.0
13 ISM 20 <1 7.3 5.4 0 0 14.4 231 19.4 42.0
14 ISM 05 2.5 5.5 2.8 1 0 14.3 265 10.5 28.8
15 ISM 02 <1 6.2 3.9 2 1 14.8 128 07.0 24.3
16 ISM 15 2 5.4 3.5 3 1 14.9 238 01.9 07.0
17 ISM 30 <1 3.8 2.0 1 0 14.9 215 32.6 92.4
18 ISM 20 n.d. 5.3 3.3 3 0 13.7 154 02.5 08.7
19 SSM 25 1 30.1 21.7 6 0 13.5 405 23.7 36.9
20 SSM 70 4 5.3 3.5 0 0 11.2 212 26.1 43.2
21 SSM 70 <1 4.7 3.7 0 0 14.7 207 30.9 68.7
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ASM, aggressive systemic mastocytosis; ISM, indolent systemic mastocytosis; SSM, smoldering systemic mastocytosis; n.d., not done; WBC, white blood cell count; ANC, absolute neutrophil count; Eo, eosinophils; Ba, basophils; Hb, hemoglobin; plt, platelets; MV, microvessel.

Table 3.

Laboratory Findings and Blood Levels of MC Mediators: Comparison with BM MVD

No. Diagnosis LDH, U/L Fgen, mg/dl aP, U/L WB-T, ng/ml S-T, ng/ml WB-H, ng/ml S-H, ng/ml Mean MVD MV/field Mean MVD in infiltrate MV/field
01 ASM 177 349 270 41.3 72.0 71.1 1.4 13.3 35.8
02 ISM 125 326 154 366.0 790.0 16.3 2.3 07.1 23.6
03 ISM 129 n.d. 99 35.2 47.9 32.6 1.6 10.4 19.2
04 ISM 81 344 188 172.2 352.5 13.7 3.6 43.4 55.2
05 ISM n.d. 323 118 23.0 34.4 51.1 1.3 11.8 25.8
06 ISM 92 245 162 90.6 149.0 26.7 3.6 21.2 29.2
07 ISM 131 449 143 34.6 69.7 34.0 2.3 12.3 33.6
08 ISM n.d. 329 128 n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. 01.5 08.3
09 ISM n.d. 265 133 n.d. 22.1 n.d. n.d. 07.9 16.4
10 ISM 109 276 128 56.8 113.0 n.d. n.d. 13.7 38.2
11 ISM 133 235 58 15.5 16.5 80.9 1.05 12.4 18.8
12 ISM 127 230 74 27.6 53.7 44.8 0.89 20.6 45.0
13 ISM 113 322 86 79.6 108.0 116.0 2.20 19.4 42.0
14 ISM 152 211 109 8.6 16.7 29.4 1.11 10.5 28.8
15 ISM n.d. 262 79 n.d. 28.2 n.d. n.d. 07.0 24.3
16 ISM 133 380 97 27.0 47.5 44.2 0.22 01.9 07.0
17 ISM 187 318 122 90.6 175.0 22.5 1.07 32.6 92.4
18 ISM 135 n.d. 93 n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. 02.5 08.7
19 SSM 157 506 161 76.0 148.0 171.0 n.d. 23.7 36.9
20 SSM 104 290 82 748.0 1090.0 33.8 5.19 26.1 43.2
21 SSM 83 365 146 465.0 970.0 11.5 1.05 30.9 68.7
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ASM, aggressive systemic mastocytosis; ISM, indolent systemic mastocytosis; SSM, smoldering systemic mastocytosis; n.d., not done; LDH, lactate dehydrogenase; Fgen, fibrinogen; WB-T, whole blood tryptase; S-T, serum tryptase; WB-H, whole blood histamine; S-H, serum histamine.

Immunohistochemistry

Immunohistochemistry was performed on paraffin-embedded, formalin-fixed BM sections using the indirect immunoperoxidase staining technique. 24 Endogenous peroxidase was blocked by methanol/H2O2. The anti-tryptase monoclonal antibody (mAb) G3 (work dilution, 1:5000) was purchased from Chemicon (Temecula, CA), the CD34 mAb QBEND 10 (1:100) from Immunotech, and a rabbit anti-VEGF antibody (work dilution, 1:50) as well as a blocking (VEGF-based) peptide from Santa Cruz Biotechnology (Santa Cruz, CA). Antibodies were diluted in 0.05 mol/L of Tris-buffered saline (pH 7.5) plus 1% bovine serum albumin and applied for 60 minutes. In the case of VEGF staining, sections were pretreated by microwave oven. In selected experiments, the anti-VEGF antibody was preincubated with a specific blocking peptide before staining. After washing, slides were incubated with biotinylated horse anti-mouse or biotinylated goat anti-rabbit IgG for 30 minutes, washed, and exposed to avidin-biotin-peroxidase or streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase complex for 30 minutes. 3-amino-9-ethyl-carbozole (AEC) was used as chromogen. Slides were counterstained in Mayer’s hemalaun. MC infiltrates were made visible by tryptase staining. Staining reactions obtained with antibodies against CD34, VEGF, and tryptase were examined on adjacent sections.

Determination of MVD

The MVD was determined in CD34-stained BM sections essentially as described by Perez-Atayde and colleagues. 25 In a first step, the entire marrow space of the sections (at least 20 microscopic fields) was examined. In a second phase, MC infiltrates (five fields per case) and the nonaffected adjacent BM (five fields per case) were examined separately. Microvessels were defined by their typical histological appearance and reactivity with CD34 mAb. The MVD was expressed as the mean number of microvessels per field.

Statistical Evaluation

The level of significance was determined by standard statistical tests including Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U test. To determine correlations between MVD and other disease-related parameters [UP-like skin lesions, flush, vascular instability, gastrointestinal ulcerative disease, BM infiltration grade (tryptase+ MC), percent MCs in BM smears, absolute neutrophil count, percent blood eosinophils, percent blood basophils, lactate dehydrogenase, fibrinogen, alkaline phosphatase, whole blood, serum tryptase levels, and histamine levels] linear correlations were applied. In case of multiple comparisons, the P values were adjusted according to Bonferroni.

Results

Evaluation of MVD in SM, CM (UP), and Controls

The BM MVD (microvessels per field) was significantly higher in patients with SM compared to CM/UP or controls [median BM MVD in SM: 12.4 (range: 1.5 to 43.4) versus UP median: 1.8 (range: 0.2 to 5.0) versus control median: 3.0 (range: 1.4 to 4.3), P < 0.05] (Figure 1) ▶ . As assessed by serial section staining using a CD34 mAb and an anti-tryptase mAb, the increase in the BM MVD was found to result from a high vessel density in the MC infiltrates. Thus, when analyzed by morphometry, the median MVD in the SM infiltrates was significantly higher compared to the nonaffected adjacent marrow [SM infiltrates: 29.2 (7.0 to 92.4) versus nonaffected BM: 5.2 (1.0 to 15.0), P < 0.05] (Figure 2) ▶ . Figure 3 ▶ shows examples of expression of tryptase (Figure 3A) ▶ and CD34 (Figure 3, B and C) ▶ in MC infiltrates in SM. Serial section staining confirmed that most of the CD34+ microvessels (Figure 3B) ▶ were located in the tryptase+ MC infiltrates (Figure 3A) ▶ .

Figure 1.

Figure 1.

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Determination of BM MVD. The MVD was determined in SM, CM, and normal BM (co). The figure shows the MVD values for each individual donor as well as the median MVD values in each group (horizontal bars).

Figure 2.

Figure 2.

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MVD in MC infiltrates compared to nonaffected marrow. The figure shows the MVD values for bone-marrow mast-cell infiltrates in comparison to the nonaffected adjacent marrow in patients with SM. As visible, the MVD was higher in the MC infiltrates compared to the nonaffected adjacent BM in all cases (P < 0.05).

Figure 3.

Figure 3.

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Immunohistochemical detection of tryptase, CD34, and VEGF in MC infiltrates. Immunohistochemistry was performed by an indirect immunoperoxidase staining technique as described in the text. A: The reactivity of an anti-tryptase mAb with neoplastic MCs in a BM infiltrate in a patient with SM. Serial-section staining of the same area (B) shows a high density of CD34+ microvessels in this MC infiltrate whereas only a few vessels were found in the nonaffected adjacent marrow. C: CD34+ microvessels in a MC infiltrate in another patient with SM. Again, the microvessels are primarily found within the MC infiltrate. As visualized in D, the spindle-shaped atypical MCs reacted with an antibody against VEGF.

Detection of VEGF in MC Infiltrates

Using an antibody against VEGF, we were able to show that the MCs in BM MC infiltrates in SM express VEGF-immunoreactive material in all cases examined (SM, n = 6) (Figure 3D) ▶ . A number of other cells in the BM including megakaryocytes and some immature myeloid progenitor cells were also labeled. By contrast, erythroid progenitor cells and most lymphoid cells did not express detectable VEGF (Table 4) ▶ . The staining reactions obtained with the anti-VEGF antibody in the BM sections analyzed were completely abolished by preincubation with a VEGF-based blocking-peptide, confirming the specificity of our staining results (not shown).

Table 4.

Expression of VEGF in BM Cells in Normal Marrow and SM Patients

Cell types Expression of VEGF detected
Normal BM SM
Megakaryocytes +++ +++
Myeloid progenitors ++ ++
Neutrophil granulocytes +/− +/−
Eosinophil granulocytes − −
Erythroid progenitors − −
Mast cells n.t. ++
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n.t., not tested.

Correlations between the BM MVD and Other Parameters in SM

In the group with SM, a significant correlation was found between the MVD and the infiltration grade (percentage of tryptase+ BM MC infiltrates) (r = 0.74, P < 0.05) (Figure 4) ▶ . A rough correlation between the MVD and serum tryptase was also found but did not reach statistical significance (r = 0.42, P = 0.06). The BM MVD did not correlate with the percentage of MCs in BM smears, absolute neutrophil counts, percentage of blood basophils or eosinophils, whole blood tryptase, whole blood histamine, serum histamine, lactate dehydrogenase, fibrinogen, or alkaline phosphatase (P > 0.05). There was also no correlation between BM MVD levels and specific clinical findings including skin involvement (UP-like skin lesions), flush, vascular instability, or gastrointestinal ulcerative disease in our SM patients (P > 0.05).

Figure 4.

Figure 4.

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Correlation between MVD and MC infiltrates. The correlation between the MVD and the infiltration grade (tryptase+ dense MC infiltrates) of the BM in patients with SM is shown. The correlation was found to be significant in all calculations (r = 0.74; P < 0.05).

Discussion

Recent studies have shown that hemopoietic malignancies exhibit increased BM angiogenesis. 20-22 SM is a clonal hematological disease that almost invariably affects the BM. 1-4,11-14,24 In the present study, we show that the BM MVD is significantly higher in SM compared to CM/UP or controls. This observation is novel and is in line with the notion that SM is a neoplastic hematological disease.

The increased vessel growth in SM seems to be associated with focal accumulations of neoplastic MCs. In fact, there was a significant correlation between the MVD and grade of MC infiltration (dense MC infiltrates) determined by tryptase immunohistochemistry. Moreover, the MVD was specifically increased in dense focal MC infiltrates, whereas the unaffected adjacent marrow disclosed normal MVD or only a slight elevation. Such a slight increase in the MVD in the nonaffected BM was especially seen in cases with an additional diffuse spread of MCs or a hypercellular marrow (slowly progressing, smoldering disease). Thus, in these cases, the increase in MVD may in part be because of a more diffuse spread of pathological cells in the affected BM. All in all, however, the increase in BM MVD in SM seems to be closely related to the increase in MCs in the BM.

An increased angiogenesis in the BM is frequently found in hematological neoplasms. In this regard it is noteworthy that patients with SM can develop an associated hematological non-MC lineage neoplasm. In such cases it may be impossible to define whether the increase in BM MVD is because of SM or because of the concomitant hematopoietic malignancy. Therefore, we decided to exclude patients with concordant hematological neoplasms in this study.

A number of angiogenic growth factors have been implicated in tumor-associated outgrowth of microvessels. 16-18 One of these factors seems to be VEGF. Because MCs are known to express VEGF, 26 one may speculate on a role of this cytokine in microvessel outgrowth in MC infiltrates. In the present study, we were indeed able to localize VEGF-immunoreactive material to MCs in BM MC infiltrates. The possibility that the antibody applied produced a nonspecific reaction could be excluded by preincubation with a blocking peptide, which resulted in a negative stain. Therefore, we indeed believe that MCs in SM are capable of expressing VEGF. However, apart from VEGF, other angiogenic factors may also be produced by MCs. Likewise, tryptase, which is expressed in MCs and was detected in SM infiltrates, can act as an angiogenic factor. 27 Also, MCs are known to express fibroblast growth factors 28 that can promote angiogenesis. In addition, various angiogenic factors may be produced by BM accessory cells stimulated by MC products.

Patients with SM may show either an indolent or (rarely) an aggressive clinical course. In addition, patients with SM may suffer from mediator-related symptoms. In the present study, most patients analyzed had indolent SM. Therefore, it was impossible to correlate the MVD levels with the categories of SM in this study. It is noteworthy however, that in patients with smoldering SM and the only patient with aggressive SM, the BM MVD was also elevated. It is also of interest that all three patients with smoldering SM showed relatively high MVD levels compared to the indolent SM group.

In further investigations, we also attempted to correlate the MVD levels with other disease-related clinical and laboratory parameters. However, no correlations were found when the MVD levels were compared with the percentage of MCs in BM smears, blood cell (differential) counts, whole blood tryptase or histamine levels, lactate dehydrogenase, or alkaline phosphatase. There was also no correlation between BM MVD levels and mediator-related clinical findings or symptoms. Thus, BM angiogenesis may not depend on the systemic spread or action of MC-derived mediators.

The notion that SM is associated with increased BM angiogenesis may have clinical implications. In this regard it is noteworthy that pharmacological inhibitors of angiogenesis can inhibit the growth of neoplastic hemopoietic (leukemic) cells. In summary, our data show that SM is associated with increased BM angiogenesis. This observation may have implications for the pathophysiology of SM and the development of new treatment strategies.

Acknowledgments

We thank Minoo Ghannadan for skilful technical assistance.

Footnotes

Address reprint requests to Peter Valent, M.D., Dept. of Internal Medicine I, Division of Hematology and Hemostaseology, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria. E-mail: peter.valent@akh-wien.ac.at.

Supported by Fonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung in Österreich–FWF (grants F-005/01 and P-14031).

F. W. and J.-H. J. contributed equally to the study.

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