TY - JOUR

T1 - Microvasculature in hepatocellular carcinoma

T2 - An ultrastructural study

AU - Taskaeva, Iuliia

AU - Bgatova, Nataliya

N1 - Funding Information: This work was supported with financing of the Novosibirsk Research Institute of Clinical and Experimental Lymphology as part of a state order, no. 0324-2019-0045. Publisher Copyright: © 2020 Elsevier Inc. Copyright: Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

PY - 2021/1

Y1 - 2021/1

N2 - Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most vascularized tumor types, and is characterized by development of heterogeneous immature vessels with increased permeability. Here, we analyzed morphology and vascular permeability-related structures in endothelial cells of HCC microvessels. Methods: Small (Type I) and large (Type II) peritumoral blood microvessels were assessed in HCC-bearing mice. By transmission electron microscopy, endothelial cell cytoplasm area, free transport vesicles, vesiculo-vacuolar organelles and clathrin-coated vesicles were measured. Results: The phenotypic changes in the HCC microvessels included presence of sinusoidal capillarization, numerous luminal microprocesses and abnormal luminal channels, irregular dilatations of interendothelial junctions, local detachment of basement membranes and widened extracellular space. Endothelial cells Type I microvessels showed increased vesicular trafficking-related structures. Conclusion: Ultrastructural characteristics of microvessels Type I can associate with HCC new-formed microvessels. The morphological changes observed in HCC microvessels might explain the increased transcellular and paracellular permeability in HCC endothelial cells.

AB - Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most vascularized tumor types, and is characterized by development of heterogeneous immature vessels with increased permeability. Here, we analyzed morphology and vascular permeability-related structures in endothelial cells of HCC microvessels. Methods: Small (Type I) and large (Type II) peritumoral blood microvessels were assessed in HCC-bearing mice. By transmission electron microscopy, endothelial cell cytoplasm area, free transport vesicles, vesiculo-vacuolar organelles and clathrin-coated vesicles were measured. Results: The phenotypic changes in the HCC microvessels included presence of sinusoidal capillarization, numerous luminal microprocesses and abnormal luminal channels, irregular dilatations of interendothelial junctions, local detachment of basement membranes and widened extracellular space. Endothelial cells Type I microvessels showed increased vesicular trafficking-related structures. Conclusion: Ultrastructural characteristics of microvessels Type I can associate with HCC new-formed microvessels. The morphological changes observed in HCC microvessels might explain the increased transcellular and paracellular permeability in HCC endothelial cells.

KW - Blood capillaries

KW - Endothelial cell

KW - Hepatocellular carcinoma

KW - Microvasculature

KW - Morphology

KW - Ultrastructure

KW - Vascular permeability

KW - Vesicular trafficking

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85092241061&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.mvr.2020.104094

DO - 10.1016/j.mvr.2020.104094

M3 - Article

C2 - 33011171

AN - SCOPUS:85092241061

VL - 133

JO - Microvascular Research

JF - Microvascular Research

SN - 0026-2862

M1 - 104094

ER -