Overexpression Prox1 in HemECs resembles Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma and cytotoxicity of sirolimus in vitro.

Jing Wang, Qilei Han, Hanlei Yan, Wei Yao, Zuopeng Wang, Kai Li

Journal of pediatric surgery 2021 Jul

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Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma (KHE) is a rare vascular tumor that occurs in children. Prox1 is a specific lymphatic marker for KHE. We intended to establish a Prox1 transgenic cell line resembling KHE and investigate the mechanism of sirolimus in treating KHE. Prox1 was stably expressed in infantile hemangioma cell HemECs. RT-qPCR and Western blot were conducted to measure the expression of target genes. CCK-8, EdU assay, and cell cycle analysis were conducted to detect cell proliferation. Wound healing and transwell assay were used to evaluate cell migration and invasion. Both mRNA and protein levels of Prox1, LYVE-1, Podoplanin were upregulated in Prox1+ HemECs. An acceleration of cell growth and a rise in migration and invasion were observed with Prox1 overexpression. Sirolimus inhibited cell proliferation, promoted apoptosis and led to G1 phase arrest in Prox1+ HemECs. The expression of p-mTOR, p-4EBP1, and p-P70S6K decreased and the ratio of LC-3 II/LC-3 I elevated after treatment of sirolimus. Stable overexpression of Prox1 in HemECs induced a lymphatic endothelial reprogramming, and enhanced aggressive biological effects, partly resembled the invasion of KHE, and could serve as a novel model for KHE. Sirolimus may block mTOR-mediated pathways and induced autophagy in KHE. Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Citation

Jing Wang, Qilei Han, Hanlei Yan, Wei Yao, Zuopeng Wang, Kai Li. Overexpression Prox1 in HemECs resembles Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma and cytotoxicity of sirolimus in vitro. Journal of pediatric surgery. 2021 Jul;56(7):1203-1210